Opperste rechter van Ottomaanse rijk te paard by Abraham de Bruyn

Opperste rechter van Ottomaanse rijk te paard

1577

Abraham de Bruyn's Profile Picture

Abraham de Bruyn

1540 - 1587

Location

Rijksmuseum
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Artwork details

Medium
print, engraving
Dimensions
height 100 mm, width 76 mm, height 137 mm, width 110 mm
Location
Rijksmuseum
Copyright
Rijks Museum: Open Domain

Tags

#portrait#dutch-golden-age#print#figuration#13_16th-century#orientalism#line#genre-painting#history-painting#academic-art#engraving

About this artwork

This engraving of the Supreme Judge of the Ottoman Empire on horseback was made by Abraham de Bruyn in the late 16th century. The image creates meaning through visual codes: the judge’s large turban and long beard signify wisdom and authority. The horse is a symbol of power, but its small size here might suggest that the judge is not as powerful as he seems, and is perhaps even a figure of fun. The decorative border featuring animals and plants seems to reference both Western and Ottoman culture. This print was made at a time when Europeans were fascinated and fearful of the Ottoman Empire. Images like this one served to inform and shape public opinion about this powerful, yet mysterious culture. The artist seems to be commenting on the social structures of the Ottoman Empire, perhaps even critiquing them. To understand this artwork better, it is important to research the history of European-Ottoman relations, the role of judges in Ottoman society, and the visual codes used to represent power and authority in the 16th century.

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