Bedreddin Hassan 1894 - 1959

This lithograph, ‘Bedreddin Hassan’ by Gordinne, is housed here at the Rijksmuseum. It’s one of a series of prints that brings to life a story with roots in the ‘One Thousand and One Nights.’ This artwork creates meaning through a visual code, presenting an orientalist fantasy for a Dutch audience, likely in the late 19th century. The clothing, architecture, and portrayal of non-European characters is based more on myth than reality, highlighting the cultural distance between the Netherlands and the imagined Middle East. The Rijksmuseum itself, as an institution, played a role in shaping Dutch national identity during this period. Works like this, depicting foreign lands and cultures, served to reinforce ideas about Dutch superiority and the exoticism of the ‘other.’ To understand this artwork better, we might explore the history of Dutch colonialism, the rise of orientalism in European art, and the role of museums in shaping national narratives. Art always exists within a social and institutional context, and by studying these contexts, we can gain a richer understanding of its meaning.