Your Thoughts about Orientalism

[Enzie Shahmiri]

It is fair to say that artists have a tendency to paint, that which has left an impression on them. As Carolyn points out, travel impressions are just another record of such experiences and I do not see the work of any artists, who has truthfully painted that what he has experienced first hand as exploitation.

As to allegorical or historical paintings, Tom has made a good point that most work was done after the fact. But if one calls himself a historical painter, then technique alone does not suffice, after all without detailed research any presentation of historical events could be misleading and fraught with error.

Carolyn, your argument about filling a void is an interesting one. When I visited Singapore my first impression was of disappointment. I was not expecting to see a street filled with Designer Stores and Starbucks. In contrast, when traveling to Bali, that experience gave me a sense of being in a far away land amongst people with an entirely different way of live. Seeing people go about their business in settings that is more in terms with their heritage is more appealing to me. I am not against progress, but

[Elizabeth Schott]

This is interesting Enzie.

Trying to read through and give everyone equal weight, I think everyone has touched on the reasons being...

We might say that the older guys were merely documenting their travels, but I would also think they became enamored by the people they found to be so different, it might have been the color of their costumes or the starkness of the surroundings, whatever grabbed them it was different.

Sharon you love to do dancers, did Degas paint dancers because of his passion for them (yes) did he continue to do it because it became financial lucrative? I am guessing yes.

One can feel the difference as Tom mentioned in the painting of a cowboy and the painting of a cowboy to have painted a cowboy, there is a feeling. But I really think contemporary artist still discover a passion for a subject and put it too financial use, I don't think it lessens the art, when as Tom referenced you can get the feel of the subject.

Does that make sense?

What else could have led this fella from Cincinnati, OH to paint this:

[I]Frank Duveneck, Guard of the Harem, Cincinnati Art Museum

[Allan Rahbek]

Beth,
This "Oriental" painting is a good example on what I was advocating. It has the abstract qualities that makes it interesting as a work of art.

If you don

[Enzie Shahmiri]

Artistic freedom as far as technique goes changes the dynamics of a painting. If the work is abstract then the subject matter tends to become secondary, with the technique taking center stage. When a work is realistic in nature, it's technique is in par with the subject. Both now acquire equal attention and that changes the dynamics between representation and content.

[Tom Edgerton]

By the way, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute museum in Williamstown, MA has published a nice and not-too-expensive volume on Orientalism. Here's the link:

http://clarkart.stores.yahoo.net/nobdreamwicp.html

--Tom

[Enzie Shahmiri]

Thank you so much Tom! I will look it up.