The Persian 18th-19th century

Curator: This is Johann Friedrich Bause’s "The Persian," located here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: He has this knowing smirk that makes me think he's in on some fantastic secret. Curator: Bause, who lived from 1738 to 1814, created this print in a time when European fascination with the "Orient" was peaking. Consider how the artist uses very fine lines to suggest exoticism. Editor: Right, the turban with the feather, the elaborate fur trim, it's all quite theatrical. The oval frame is a nice touch, too—very old-world. Curator: The image's circulation certainly contributed to constructing popular understandings of Persian identity and power in the late 18th century. Editor: It's a reminder of how perceptions of people, of cultures, are often built through art, filtered through a creative lens. Curator: Exactly. Bause's print is not merely a portrait; it is a cultural artifact. Editor: And a rather intriguing one at that!