Crete 1897

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky painted this oil on canvas depicting ‘Crete’ sometime in the 19th century. In it, we can see a verdant island landscape sloping down towards a sparkling sea. The Crimean War, the Russo-Turkish War, and the Greek War of Independence all took place during Aivazovsky’s lifetime. The Ottoman empire was in decline and destabilizing leading European powers to jostle for position in the area. As such, the image of Crete takes on new meaning in the context of these imperial conflicts. Are we witnessing a military landing in this image? Is this a painting of hope or of invasion? Historians researching the period have access to an increasing number of primary sources, including diplomatic records, military logs, newspaper reports, and personal diaries, all of which help us better understand the social and political contexts that shaped the production and reception of this artwork.