Within the tradition of Orientalist paintings, the imagined harem was often represented in two modes: the domestic and the erotic.
Read moreDisoriented in the Harem: Part III
Similar to Orientalist writings, the limited access to the harem space caused its represented version in painting to be equally dissimilar to its real existence.
Read moreDisoriented in the Harem: Part II
It is necessary to consider the social and literary background for the Western evocation of the harem.
Read moreDisoriented in the Harem: Part I
Culturally speaking, can the Orient be truly described as a place found in the Near East?
Read moreMarriage Fan Unfolded
A crucial element to eighteenth-century fashion in Europe was attention to detail. From the buttons on one’s waistcoat to the folding fan, acessories were an crucial to the ensemble.
Read moreThe Virtu of Isabella d’Este
As wife to the Duke of Gonzaga, Isabella used her rank and gender in order to participate in the male dominated activity of patronage.
Read moreSainte Chapelle: A Chapel Fit for a King
In 1248, King Louis IX of France left for the Crusades knowing that his position as the ‘most Christian’ king was manifested in Sainte Chapelle.
Read moreMiss Pickering’s Quilt
Mary C. Pickering’s Quilt at the Smithsonian Museum of American History is a perfect example of a nineteenth century bedcovering whose meaning goes beyond mere utility.
Read moreMadame Pompadour on a Platter: Cindy Sherman's Interpretation of Sevres
When one considers a tureen and platter made out of porcelain, postmodernism rarely comes to mind.
Read moreSuch a Heel: Wedgwood’s Take on Shoes
Click those heels together and say: “There’s no place like Wedgwood. There’s no place like Wedgwood…”
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