Halil Bey, fils du Caïmakan de Sinope 1850 - 1914

Jules Didier made this print, Halil Bey, fils du Caïmakan de Sinope, date unknown, using etching and engraving. In it we see a young man, elegantly dressed in what we might think of as traditional Ottoman costume, seated on a veranda with an older veiled woman standing behind. This image reflects a broader phenomenon of European Orientalism in the 19th century. It catered to a Western audience fascinated by the "exotic" cultures of the East. These images constructed and reinforced stereotypes, often exoticizing and romanticizing non-Western societies. As art historians, we can look to primary sources to understand the power dynamics at play in the way these images are produced and consumed, what purpose institutions like the press or art galleries play, and how these depictions might have been viewed differently by people within the culture being represented. By engaging with such historical and cultural contexts, we can gain a deeper understanding of this artwork.