Osman Hamdi Bey - Young Woman Reading (1880)

Osman Hamdi Bey (1842-1910)

Osman Hamdi Bey (Istanbul, 1842 - 1910), Ottoman Lady, Preparing for an Outing, oil on canvas on panel, 68 x 45 cm. framed.

Osman Hamdi Bey (1842-1910, Turkish) ~ A Lady of Constantinople, 1881

[Source: artvee.com]

Osman Hamdi Bey (1842-1910) - Ottoman lady preparing for an outing

Oil on canvas laid on board. 26.8 x 17.7 inches, 68 x 45 cm.

Estimate: €1,000,000-1,400,000.

Sold Dorotheum, Vienna, 2 May 2023 for €1,275,000 incl B.P.

MWW Artwork of the Day (4/1/23) Osman Hamdi Bey (Turkish, 1842–1910) Young Woman Reading (1880) Oil on canvas, 41.1 x 51 cm. Private Collection (UK)

"Young Woman Reading," known more commonly as "Young Girl Reading the Qur'an," displays many of the qualities for which Osman Hamdi became best known. The impeccably rendered dress of the kneeling figure and the decorative background against which she is set, rich in colour and Islamic designs, are virtual signatures of the artist, as is the startling clarity of the picture's highly detailed style. The precision of its surface, however, masks significant ambiguities at its core: The book that the woman has chosen, the direction of her gaze, and even the parting of her lips and the buttons at her neck, all serve to undermine our first impressions of the scene. What begins as a pretty harem picture, in other words, becomes a complicated and multi-referential text which addresses a variety of topical issues within the landscapes of Orientalism, 19th century art history, and aspects of the artist's biography itself. Through its transposition of British, French, and Turkish models, and its manipulation of their themes, "Young Woman Reading" demonstrates the unique nature of Osman Hamdi's Orientalism, and his artful game.

For #WorldTurtleDay on a #TurtleTuesday + #TwoForTuesday: what does this unusual 18th c. English portrait have in common with this early 20th c. Ottoman one from Pera Müzesi? More than you may think! 😉Find out more on the blog:

ANIMAL ART OF THE DAY for World Turtle Day: an unusual tortoise portrait from 18th Century England, and its connection to Ottoman Turkey https://arthistoryanimalia.com/2023/05/23/animal-art-of-the-day-for-world-turtle-day-an-unusual-tortoise-portrait-from-18th-century-england-and-its-connection-to-ottoman-turkey/

Still Life With a Tortoise, 1743 possibly by Thomas Black (English, 1715-1777) oil on canvas, 74.9 x 96.5 cm Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Tortoise Trainer, 1906 version by Osman Hamdi Bey (Ottoman, 1842-1910) oil on canvas, 221.5 x 120 cm Pera Müzesi

Orientalism in Ottoman Empire Paintings

european orientalist depictions of ottoman women vs turkish painter osman hamdi bey

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orientalism: a relationship

i was so disgustingly obsessed with orientalism as a little girl and it did more damage to me than i let on. orientalism was cool af, seeing islamic and muslim ideas and concepts portrayed through various cultures and people was so mindblowing. as a little girl who was thirsty for seeing her people and faith represented, you can inmagine my joy. but diving deeper and deeper into orientalism it became evident that my modest faith and heritage of my ancestors was being tarnished. the woman of my line were being painted as sexual beings with only limited sex appeal and the men were painted as half brained sword wielding dumb wits. it made me sick and my very white art teacher could tell. she encouraged me to branch out and acknowedlge that orientalism was harmful, despite people saying it was not.

this consumed my life and i soon stumbled upon osman hamdi bey. a turkish painter from the 18th century who had the same sentiments as I. how was it that a turkish man from the 18th century was just as upset as me. he didn't like that muslim woman were depicted as sex objects and he made sure to show muslim men studying and partaking in regular activities.

Osman Hamdi Bey - The Tortoise Trainer (1906)

لوحة من أعمال عثمان حمدي بيه

مطربتنان (1880)

Painting by Osman Hamdi Bey

Two Musician Girls (1880)

MWW Artwork of the Day (2/11/23) Osman Hamdi Bey (Turkish, 1842–1910) Two Girl Musicians (c. 1880) Oil on canvas, 58 x 39 cm. Pera Museum, Istanbul  

Although he is regarded as an Orientalist painter, Osman Hamdi Bey’s perception of the East is remarkably different his Western counterparts. As opposed to the Western Orientalists who emphasize sexuality in their female figures, in Osman Hamdi Bey’s paintings the female figures are often conscious of the period of Westernization in the Ottoman Empire, as well as their individual identities and talents, and are thus open to learning and self-development. In a number of Osman Hamdi Bey’s works, the Ottoman woman is portrayed while playing an instrument, reading, or arranging the flowers in her house and she always appears fully clothed. In this painting, which incorporates architectural elements of the Bursa Green Mosque, apart from musical instruments like the tambur (lute) and the tambourine, Ottoman decorative elements such as rugs, woodwork, stone carving, and tiles complement the artist’s unique approach to the female identity.

Pera Müzesi, Beyoğlu