Artwork
Scenă de harem
Scenă de harem is an unspecified painting by the Orientalist artist Pericle Capidan. It dates from 1923 and is held in the collection of the Colecție particulară - Cluj.
About this work
Overview
Scenă de harem, painted by Pericle Capidan in 1923, is a work housed at the Museum of Ethnography. The piece depicts an intimate, dimly lit interior scene.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a man seated on a cluttered, dark floor alongside a nude woman. The focus on the pair, illuminated against a shadowy backdrop, suggests a private, contemplative moment.
Technique & Style
Capidan employed chiaroscuro to create strong contrasts between light and dark, emphasizing the figures. Thick brushstrokes in certain areas, notably on skin, add a textured quality to the work.
History & Provenance
Created in 1923, the painting is part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography, with no detailed provenance history provided in available sources.
Context
While specific contextual details about the painting's creation are scarce, its use of chiaroscuro reflects influences common in early 20th-century European art exploring dramatic lighting.
Legacy
Information on the painting's impact, exhibitions, or scholarly analysis beyond its existence in the Museum of Ethnography is not provided in available sources.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pericle Capidan painted everyday scenes and quiet moments in oils. His brush captured a Sighișoara street, his own mother in 1902, and a 1923 harem scene among other interiors. He worked from the late 1800s into the…
