Self-portrait in traditional Turkish costume 1746

Curator: Looking at this, the first thing I think of is just…texture. It’s all textures! The fur hat, the beard—it all practically begs to be touched, doesn’t it? Editor: Indeed. This is "Self-portrait in traditional Turkish costume," an oil painting created in 1746 by Jean-Étienne Liotard. He really captures a moment in cultural exchange, housed here at the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen in Dresden. Curator: Cultural exchange—absolutely! But also, more personally, he’s presenting a bit of himself. Is this what authenticity looks like for Liotard? I can’t help but wonder what statement he wanted to make here… Editor: Well, in the 18th century, there was this fascination with the Ottoman Empire. Many Europeans would emulate styles or customs that were, perceived, exotic or foreign. It raises a lot of questions about appropriation, representation, and power. Curator: I get that. It’s impossible to ignore those loaded histories. Yet, as I observe the painting, the expression is less one of outright arrogance, more so, this intense introspection. The look says “What do you make of me?” Editor: Absolutely, but the self-awareness he projects can also be viewed through a political lens. Was it perceived acceptable at the time, for Europeans, to fashion themselves in Ottoman garments? And was Liotard pushing the boundaries by doing so? Curator: Maybe! It’s all a dance. The real and the performative, the internal and the external. Even just the skill of representing fabric and fur feels like an act of...showing off, honestly. It also could be seen as another type of language the artist is aiming to communicate with. It is indeed a layered look. Editor: Agreed. These self-portraits reveal complex and evolving political relationships. I hope that the discussions help spark broader considerations of our relationship to cultural styles today. Curator: Yes, what does it mean to wear a "culture," then and now? Food for thought as we navigate this world of art.