Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

  • AMMpro
  • AMM Fantasy Collecting Game
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

Who You Calling Oriental?

August 1, 2008 by Marion Maneker

Orientalism begins its ascent

The Orientalist painting market has been gaining velocity and visibility. The Wall Street Journal gives us a very brief precis of the action here. We gave you a little taste here. For a slightly more detailed explanation of what’s driving these collectors, allow me to quote myself from this New York Sun story in April:

Orientalist art is prized by Western collectors, as well as by denizens of Turkey, North Africa, and the Gulf States. But the two sides come at the art from different motivations. Americans are concerned with painters, pedigree, and connoiseurship. Collectors from the Middle East are seeking images of familiar and cherished places. Egyptians want Cairo street scenes. Turkish buyers look for views of old Istanbul. An Algerian might want a painting with the ancient gates of his city and so on.

The one attribute that both sides value is accuracy. And it is a quality that requires a keen eye to spot. In the 19th century, painters looking for the path to prominence could easily whip up scenes from the distant East. A journeyman painter could buy some Eastern bric-a-brac at market and dress up his favorite French model in bright robes to sell a picture. The more adventurous would travel east and paint from their sketches upon return. Today, collectors pore over paintings to make sure every topographic and ethnographic detail is correct.

What makes Orientalism compelling is the intersection of some very good–and some great–painters with subject matter that will become increasingly important in global culture as the Arab world, in general, and the Gulf States, in particular, become more closely integrated into the world economy. We’ll have more analysis on the Orientalist market this Fall.

More from Art Market Monitor

  • Sotheby’s Orientalist Sale on the RiseSotheby’s Orientalist Sale on the Rise
  • Quantifying OrientalismQuantifying Orientalism
  • A New Gerome for Our GenerationA New Gerome for Our Generation
  • Christie's Orientalist SaleChristie's Orientalist Sale
  • Orientalism with ProvenanceOrientalism with Provenance
  • Rehs on Orientalism: Give It a RestRehs on Orientalism: Give It a Rest

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Orientalism

About Marion Maneker

Want to get Art Market Monitor‘s posts sent to you in our email? Sign up below by clicking on the Subscribe button.

Top Posts

  • Keith Haring’s 1989 Retrospect Comes to Sotheby’s London Prints Sale
  • $10 M. Picasso Portrait Unseen for Decades to Sell at Bonhams
  • Vienna Secession Painting, Long Thought to Be Lost, Sets a Record at Auction
  • Tony Podesta's Secret Art Buying
  • Four of Picasso's Women Valued at $28m Come to Christie's from Rose-Walters Collection
  • Norman Rockwell's Not Gay. But Is He a Great Artist?
  • Restituted Van Gogh Portrait from London Collection to Sell at Christie’s
  • Roy Lichtenstein’s Top Ten Auction Prices
  • Collection of Texas Heiress Anne Marion Expected to Fetch $150 M. at Sotheby’s
  • Sotheby's Pulls in a $9m David Hockney for November
  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • AMMpro
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ

twitterfacebooksoundcloud
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
California Privacy Rights
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Advertise on Art Market Monitor