L'Orientalisme

Orientalism is a literary and artistic current that took root in Western Europe during the 18th century. Its scale and appeal extended through the 19th century, signaling a sustained fascination of artists and writers with the cultures of the West—the Maghreb—or the Levant, the Middle East. Born from a captivation with the Ottoman Empire, it traced the empire’s gradual decline alongside the expansion of European colonization. This exotic current aligned with the major 19th-century movements—academic, romantic, realistic, and even impressionist. Its influence spans architecture, music, painting, literature, and poetry. With picturesque aesthetics, romanticized blends of styles, and juxtapositions of civilizations and eras, Orientalism has fashioned a host of clichés that endure in contemporary literature and cinema.