Græsk købmand 1835

Martinus Rørbye made this pencil drawing of a Greek merchant, its date currently unknown, but his active period was the first half of the 19th century. This image offers a glimpse into the Western gaze upon the Eastern world during the 1800s. During this period, European artists frequently traveled to the Ottoman Empire and Greece. This was a time of growing interest in what was perceived as the exotic “Orient.” Here, the artist depicts a merchant, possibly during his travels, seated and gazing downward in a state of relaxation. Rørbye, like other artists of his time, plays with visual codes and cultural references that were readily understood by his European audience. By examining travelogues, literature, and other visual materials from the period, we can understand the complex social and institutional context in which this drawing was made. Doing so allows us to interpret and understand the work within the context of 19th-century European Orientalism.