The exhibition explores notions of “the East” in the 19th century amid encounters, connections, and exchanges between Europe and the Middle East shaped by colonialism and imperialism. Beginning with Napoleon’s conquest of Egypt in 1798 and culminating in the paintings of Ottoman artist Osman Hamdi Bey, it traces how Islamic works of art influenced European and American artists, architects and designers. It is described as The Met’s first exhibition to make Orientalism its central focus and features approximately 180 objects from twelve Met departments, along with loans from the United States and abroad.
The Met — “Orientalism: Between Fact and Fantasy”
