Sultana Reading in the Harem
Original title: Sultana Reading in the Harem
kurzbeschreibung
A seated woman in traditional dress, absorbed in a book, is the subject of Claude Augustin Duflos le Jeune's etching Sultana Reading in the Harem. The print was made in 1746–47 and combines etching with engraving.
Description
In an armchair sits a woman in a richly embroidered gown, reading. Beside her stand a small table lamp and a flower container. Three other figures converse on a bench in the background. To the left, a landscape with trees and a building opens up; light falls into the room through a window with shutters. The layout is symmetrical: the main figure in the middle, the others to the sides.
Context
Oriental subjects were widespread in French art in the mid-eighteenth century. Harem scenes like this one matched the period's enthusiasm for the Orient without being authentic portrayals. The print belongs to a series of engravings after designs by François Boucher.
Impact
The nuanced linework and balanced arrangement create a calm, refined mood. Reading in an exotic setting links intimacy with an erotic undertone, as is characteristic of the Rococo.
Technique
Etching with engraving allows delicate, detailed linework. The black-and-white execution emphasizes the graphic qualities and the shadow effects of the arrangement.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)