Omai (Omiah) 1776

"Omai (Omiah)" is a portrait of a Tahitian man named Omai, painted by Joshua Reynolds in 1776. Omai was brought to England as a curiosity and was a sensation at the time. Reynolds presents Omai in a classical pose, draped in a white robe, creating a sense of both exoticism and nobility. This work highlights the fascination with foreign cultures in 18th-century Europe and the portrayal of non-European subjects by prominent artists like Reynolds.