Portrait Of Muhammad Dervish Khan 1788

Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun painted this portrait of Muhammad Dervish Khan. The canvas offers us a fascinating glimpse into the visual culture of 18th-century France and its relationship with other cultures. Le Brun was a prominent portraitist in France, known for her depictions of the French aristocracy. Here, she turns her attention to a non-European subject, Muhammad Dervish Khan, who was an Indian diplomat visiting France. Through costume and pose, the painting signals his foreignness while simultaneously attempting to assimilate him into European portrait conventions. The sword and the turban mark him as an oriental figure, exotic and strange for the European audience. But we might ask ourselves, was this image also viewed by Indian audiences? How did they interpret the image? Careful historical research into primary sources can shed light on the artist's intentions and the cultural exchanges taking place during this period. This helps us better understand the painting's complex social and institutional contexts.