View of Constantinople (Istanbul) and the Seraglio from the Swedish Legation in Pera c. 1770 - 1780

This is Antoine van der Steen’s “View of Constantinople (Istanbul) and the Seraglio from the Swedish Legation in Pera,” painted at an unknown date. It offers a glimpse into the 18th-century Ottoman Empire through the eyes of a European artist. Van der Steen situates his vantage point from the Swedish Legation, a deliberate choice that speaks volumes about power dynamics and cultural exchange. From this position, he gazes upon Constantinople, capturing the city's skyline with its domes and minarets. The inclusion of the Seraglio, the Ottoman Sultan’s palace, is particularly telling. It represents the heart of Ottoman power, viewed from a diplomatic outpost, a symbolic intersection of two worlds. The painting subtly highlights the complexities of cultural encounters, inviting us to reflect on the narratives that emerge when different cultures meet and observe one another.