Arabian Poet (Persian) 1886

Gustave Moreau painted ‘Arabian Poet (Persian)’ during the 19th century, a period marked by France’s colonial expansion into North Africa and the Middle East, which fueled an intense fascination with the “Orient.” Moreau’s painting presents an imagined vision of the East, one that is both exotic and ethereal. The poet, adorned with a turban, shares his horse with a winged, haloed figure, possibly a muse. She embodies a Western ideal of beauty, and it is interesting to note the power dynamics at play, as they both ride the same horse, thus sharing the journey, although she is placed higher than the poet, implying an elevated importance. The symbolism and dreamlike quality invite us to consider the complex and often romanticized relationship between the West and the East during this era, while asking us to consider Moreau’s own position within this cultural exchange.