Artwork
Turkish Female of Asia Minor
Turkish Female of Asia Minor is a watercolor work on paper by the Orientalist artist Charles Frederick Brockdorff. It dates from 1832 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Charles Frederick Brockdorff’s 1832 watercolour, titled *Turkish Female of Asia Minor*, is one of fifty‑four sketches assembled in a bound album. The volume, comprising 116 pages of varied‑coloured paper, is half‑covered in morocco leather and bears a gilt‑lettered spine, presenting the collection as a scrapbook of Ottoman subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays a woman wrapped in a layered garment of patterned fabric, featuring blue‑white checks above and dark blue stripes below. Her face is veiled except for the eyes, and she wears vivid red slippers with yellow soles, suggesting a blend of modesty and personal adornment within a domestic setting.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolour, the drawing employs a light, uniform background that isolates the figure, allowing the saturated hues of the clothing and footwear to dominate. Brockdorff’s handling of line and wash emphasizes the texture of the fabric and the subtle folds of the hooded cloak.
History & Provenance
The sketch forms part of a larger album that includes forty‑one works in Brockdorff’s hand and thirteen by other artists, all documenting Turkish people and objects. The album’s construction and binding indicate it was intended as a collector’s volume, likely assembled shortly after the artist’s travels in the early 1830s.
Context
Created during a period of heightened European interest in the Ottoman Empire, the work reflects contemporary fascination with Eastern dress and customs. Watercolours such as this served both as visual records for travelers and as exotic curiosities for audiences back home.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Frederick Brockdorff painted detailed watercolours of North African life and costume in the 1830s.
