Fantasia À Constantinople 1880 - 1895

Félix Ziem painted this scene of “Fantasia À Constantinople” using oil on canvas. Ziem, born in 1821, belonged to a generation of artists who saw the world changing rapidly due to industrialization and colonialism. In this historical context, we can view this painting as more than a simple depiction of a scene. It captures the Western fascination with the ‘Orient,’ a term loaded with assumptions and power dynamics. The riders, their movements, and the city in the background tell a story—one of cultural interaction, perhaps, but also of the gaze of the colonizer upon the colonized. The artist invites us to witness this scene, but from what perspective? Is it one of admiration, curiosity, or something else entirely? As you stand here, consider the complex layers of history and power embedded in this artwork. What does it mean to look at a place through the eyes of someone from elsewhere?