Artwork
Seated Turk
Seated Turk is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Nicolas Toussaint Charlet. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1825, *Seated Turk* is a lithographic print by French artist Nicolas‑Toussaint Charlet, whose reputation rested on depictions of military life. Unlike his usual subjects, this work presents a solitary figure in a relaxed pose, rendered with the immediacy of a sketch. The image forms part of Charlet’s extensive series of graphic productions from the early nineteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The composition portrays a man seated cross‑legged on the ground, dressed in flowing garments and a turban, with a small pouch resting in his lap.
The composition portrays a man seated cross‑legged on the ground, dressed in flowing garments and a turban, with a small pouch resting in his lap. An indistinct animal, possibly a dog, lies near his feet. Though the figure is identified as a Turk, the work does not convey a narrative scene; instead it captures a moment of quiet contemplation, contrasting with Charlet’s more overtly martial themes.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the print relies on swift, gestural lines that suggest the texture of fabric and the movement of hair. Charlet’s handling of the medium yields a lively, almost spontaneous quality, despite the simplicity of the drawing. The tonal contrasts are achieved through varied pressure on the stone, allowing the figure’s outline and surrounding details to emerge with a sense of immediacy.
History & Provenance
*Seated Turk* emerged during a prolific period for Charlet, when he was producing a large volume of prints for the French market. The work was likely distributed as part of a series of affordable lithographs that circulated among the burgeoning middle‑class audience of the 1820s. Its survival in museum collections today reflects the continued interest in Charlet’s broader oeuvre beyond his military subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet was a French painter and printmaker, more especially of military subjects.
