Standing Figure in Oriental Costume 1635 - 1719

Editor: Here we have Sebastiano Bombelli's "Standing Figure in Oriental Costume," created sometime between 1635 and 1719. It's a charcoal drawing with a surprising amount of detail. What strikes me most is the sheer theatricality of the figure’s attire and stance. What do you see in this piece, looking at it with a bit more seasoned eyes? Curator: Well, immediately I'm transported! This isn't just a portrait; it's a story unfolding on paper, isn’t it? I sense Bombelli, with a playful wink, is riffing on the 18th-century fascination with the "Orient". We should ask ourselves what *is* Oriental Costime here. I wonder if this piece might even capture an actor in costume? Editor: Ah, like a character from a play! I hadn't thought of that, but it would explain the exaggerated robe and that confident posture. But who exactly were they trying to portray, though? Is it trying to actually represent other culture or is just playing with an exotic fantasy? Curator: Exactly. The drawing style isn't precisely representational, but evocative. What this tells me, actually, is that that precision wasn’t really the goal here. This piece probably leans more toward the "fantasy" end of the spectrum. It almost looks as though Bombelli’s trying to capture the *idea* of the Orient more than its true likeness, which actually tells us about 17th century Europeans more than other cultures. The figure might as well be a figment of a particularly fashionable dream. What is you impression? Editor: That's fascinating! I came in seeing an intriguing figure study, but now I see a commentary on how Europeans viewed, and perhaps misconstrued, other cultures. I will look at other portraits from Bombeilli's collection with renewed interest! Curator: Precisely! Art is nothing if not a hall of mirrors. Isn’t that the delight of discovering new meanings!