Gezicht op een cipressentuin te Constantinopel 1742 - 1801

This print shows a view of a cypress garden in Constantinople, made by Georg Balthasar Probst in the 18th century. During this time, there was an increase in cultural exchange and fascination with the Ottoman Empire. Prints like these were popular, as they catered to European audiences eager to visually consume and possess images of distant lands. This image reflects the social and political dynamics between Europe and the Ottoman Empire. It speaks to the power dynamics inherent in the act of observation, and the desire to capture and represent foreign cultures. It presents an idealized, orderly image of Constantinople, reflecting European aesthetics and perhaps overlooking the complexities and realities of Ottoman society. Imagine how the people who first saw this print might have felt; awe, curiosity, or even a sense of superiority. The print stands as a testament to the enduring human desire to understand, document, and sometimes, to exoticize the world around us.