Orientalism: Delacroix to Klee serves as an essential companion to the landmark exhibition held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. This volume investigates the European fascination with the Middle East and North Africa, tracing the artistic evolution of the Orientalist movement from the romantic intensity of Eugène Delacroix to the modern, avant-garde perspectives of Henri Matisse and Paul Klee. Through scholarly essays and a comprehensive catalogue of paintings and photography, the book examines the aesthetics of travel and the complex cultural dynamics between Western artists and their subject matter. It highlights how these painters and photographers, seeking an escape from the banality of modern life, navigated the allure of the exotic. The text also uniquely incorporates the experiences of Australian artists, providing a distinct antipodean viewpoint on the genre. By analysing the "Oriental mirage"—the tension between artistic observation and cultural misunderstanding—this beautifully illustrated work offers a thorough understanding of how Western eyes captured the colours, shadows, and daily lives of the Islamic world, ultimately bridging the gap between historical documentation and modern artistic vision.
Used (good, see images, ex library) Softcover ISBN 0731313445
