Who painted Figure of an oriental Man, full-length, smoking a hookah?

Figure of an oriental Man, full-length, smoking a hookah was painted by Unknown in 1848.

Where can I see Figure of an oriental Man, full-length, smoking a hookah?

Figure of an oriental Man, full-length, smoking a hookah is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Figure of an oriental Man, full-length, smoking a hookah?

Figure of an oriental Man, full-length, smoking a hookah is associated with Orientalism.

Artwork

Figure of an oriental Man, full-length, smoking a hookah

Unknown , 1848

Figure of an oriental Man, full-length, smoking a hookah is a watercolor work on paper by the Orientalist artist Unknown. It dates from 1848 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a watercolour sketch portraying a full‑length figure of an Oriental man engaged in smoking a hookah.

About this work

Overview

The work is a watercolour sketch portraying a full‑length figure of an Oriental man engaged in smoking a hookah. Rendered with loose, fluid brushwork, the image captures a moment of quiet leisure within an interior setting. The composition is simple, with a plain background and a faint suggestion of another presence in the corner.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is dressed in loose, earth‑toned garments, including a red hat, a striped sash, and a long coat with patterned sleeves. He stands near a ledge, one hand holding the curved pipe of a hookah while the other rests on a small table, conveying a relaxed, contemplative atmosphere associated with traditional social smoking rituals.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolour, the sketch displays rapid, gestural strokes and a limited, watery palette that emphasize immediacy over detail. The translucency of the medium allows the underlying paper tone to show through, reinforcing the sense of a quick study. The handling of light and shadow is minimal, focusing attention on the figure’s posture and the hookah.

History & Provenance

The piece entered the collection through a purchase by Rodney Searight from the dealer R. Grey in March 1969, for a price of eight pounds. This acquisition reflects the modest market value of such studies at the time and provides a documented link to the work’s recent ownership history.