Standing turban-clad soldier, viewed from the front; in his right hand, a spear; on his left arm, a curved shield 1582

This woodcut of a turban-clad soldier, spear in hand and shield at the ready, was made by Melchior Lorck in around 1570. Lorck was a Danish artist working at a time when the Ottoman Empire was expanding its reach into Europe. The image presents a clear example of what we might call Orientalism, the artistic and cultural phenomenon through which Europeans defined themselves in relation to their idea of the "Orient." The soldier's elaborate turban and curved shield are visual cues that mark him as "other," exoticizing and perhaps even demonizing him in the eyes of a European audience. It is important to remember that the Ottomans were a powerful political and military force at this time and were seen as a threat to European Christendom. By studying the history of the Ottoman Empire and the political climate of 16th-century Europe, we can better understand the social and cultural forces that shaped Lorck's image and its reception. This artwork shows us that art is not created in a vacuum, but is always a product of its time and place.