Bey, Capitaine de Galere, plate 37 from "Recueil de cent estampes représentent differentes nations du Levant" 1714 - 1715

Editor: This print, "Bey, Capitaine de Galere," by Jean Baptiste Vanmour, made around 1714, is striking. The man’s pose seems very deliberate. What do you see in this portrait? Curator: I see an exercise in cultural translation. Consider the gaze; it meets ours directly, almost daringly. Vanmour, positioned as an outsider, captures a specific vision of Ottoman power. But what symbols stand out to you? Editor: Well, his clothing, particularly the fur-lined robe and turban, signals status. It also strikes me that the background is left very plain, focusing all attention on the figure and what he wears. Curator: Precisely. Each element of dress functions as a signifier, carefully chosen to project authority, yet understood through a European lens of the "Orient." How do you think contemporaries might have interpreted those signs? Think about cultural biases... Editor: I suppose they might have seen it as exotic and powerful, reinforcing existing stereotypes about Ottoman rulers. I am curious about his hands; what about them? Curator: Good question! The open hands – devoid of any objects, palms out – convey an expectation of the viewer's surrender to his will and dominion, even while signaling the bearing of gifts from faraway lands to win him over. These symbolic readings are further contextualized with the inclusion of Ottoman inscriptions within the same plate, hinting at the synthesis of local custom within European artistry. It begs questions on who this imagery was for, and if the cultural appropriation translated across Europe? Editor: I never thought about prints as carrying so much cultural weight, performing diplomacy through symbols! Curator: It’s a powerful reminder that images, especially those meant for circulation, carry deep cultural memory, and influence cross cultural views and perception, even centuries later. Editor: This has definitely given me a new appreciation for the layers of meaning embedded within seemingly straightforward portraiture!