Costume Study for Blonde in the "Abduction from the Seraglio" by W.A. Mozart 1830 - 1850

Johann Georg Christoph Fries created this costume study for Blonde in Mozart’s “Abduction from the Seraglio” using watercolor and graphite. The opera premiered in Vienna in 1782, and this study was probably made sometime in the first half of the 19th century. It depicts a European woman dressed in what was thought to be Turkish style for the stage. The opera, set in Turkey, reflects the vogue for Orientalism in Europe at the time, and this study shows how those ideas were translated into visual form for a theatrical audience. The “Turkish” elements in the costume are not accurate, but rather are a pastiche of different styles and materials, such as the striped sash. The image creates meaning through those cultural references and historical associations. The image is a reflection of the history of theatrical productions and also provides a window onto the colonialist fascination with representing other cultures on stage. To understand the image further, we can research the history of costume design, the staging of operas, and the development of Orientalism in European art and culture.