Seated Turk 

Here is a drawing by John Frederick Lewis depicting a seated Turk. The figure wears a fez, a symbol of modernity and Ottoman identity from the 19th century onwards. This headwear carries echoes of ancient Phrygian caps, worn by figures in classical antiquity, often associated with freedom and revolution. Think of the French Revolution, where the Phrygian cap became a symbol of liberty. The seated pose, with one leg crossed over the other, suggests a casual authority, a pose that can be traced back to depictions of rulers and philosophers in classical art. The emotional and psychological weight of this image resides in its combination of exoticism and familiarity. This kind of cultural appropriation and reinterpretation demonstrates how symbols migrate across cultures and epochs, accumulating new layers of meaning while retaining echoes of their past.