The Departure of a Sultan 16th-17th century

Editor: Here we have Antonio Tempesta’s "The Departure of a Sultan," created sometime before 1630. It’s a detailed print showing a grand procession. The sheer number of figures is impressive, but what strikes me most is the linear quality. What do you make of it? Curator: It’s a window into the 17th-century European fascination with the "Orient," filtered through Tempesta’s Italian eye. The repetition, that sense of endlessness, speaks to the perceived opulence and power of the Sultan. What do you think Tempesta is trying to convey about cultural difference? Editor: That's interesting. I guess I was just seeing the aesthetic pattern, but you're right, it's a commentary on power and otherness. Thanks, that's really helpful. Curator: My pleasure. It always comes down to *how* we're seeing.