The Seraglio (Aubry de La Mottraye, Travels throughout Europe, Asia and into Part of Africa..., London, 1724, vol. I, pl. 18) 1723 - 1724

"The Seraglio," an etching by William Hogarth, depicts a scene from the Ottoman Empire. The scene takes place in a richly decorated room featuring a patterned floor and numerous windows overlooking a garden. The figures are primarily women, some of whom are dancing while others are seated and observing. This 18th-century artwork is an example of Hogarth's early interest in travel and exotic subjects, and it offers a glimpse into the visual culture of the Ottoman court during a time of great European curiosity about the East.