En græker (efter litografi) 1813 - 1872

Andreas Flinch created this lithograph called "En græker (efter litografi)" sometime in the 19th century. Observe the figure; his attire, particularly the turban, marks him as “Greek” which at the time connoted a generalized Near Eastern or Ottoman identity. The turban itself is an ancient symbol, seen in various forms across cultures from Persia to India, signifying status, identity, and sometimes spiritual wisdom. Consider how such headwear reappears in Renaissance paintings—often adorning figures meant to evoke exotic lands. Yet, each reappearance subtly shifts. What once represented authority in the East becomes a marker of foreignness, tinged with European fantasies of the Orient. Our collective memory reshapes the symbol, imbuing it with new emotional and cultural baggage. This turban is but one thread in a vast tapestry connecting us to a world of shifting identities and perceptions.