The french Orientalists

Light and shadow in the Orient: the fascination of the Orientalists

In the 19th century, Western painters discovered the secrets of the Orient. They were fascinated by the light from the south that illuminated the landscapes, colours and shapes of this faraway world. French artists such as Delacroix, Gérôme and Ingres invite us on a painterly journey into an enchanting vision of the Orient.

The exhibition opens with Delacroix's travel diaries, where the interplay of light and shadow, the scents of spices and the rhythms of oriental music are all present. Works by artists such as Constant, Frère, Gérôme and Dinet take you through narrow streets, lively souks and magnificent courtyards. Scenes of desert journeys, hunting and oases reflect the fascination of the unknown.

The Orient in 19th-century art

The mysterious world of the harem captured the imagination of painters. With mashrabiya windows and hammam scenes, they created an idealised, sensual dream world that was often more fantasy than reality. Ingres' "Grande Odalisque" epitomises this dream of the unknown, which was emulated in the Parisian salons of the 19th century. In the end, what remains is the fleeting mirage of an Orient as the Orientalists dreamed it.