Bashi-Bazouk
1868
Gérôme was a master of 'Orientalism,' a trend where European artists romanticized the Middle East, and he was obsessed with getting the details right—just look at the sheen on that pink silk tunic. The title 'Bashi-Bazouk' refers to undisciplined Ottoman soldiers (literally 'crazy head' in Turkish), yet this young Nubian model looks incredibly dignified and calm beneath his towering, chaotic headdress. He likely posed for this in Gérôme's Paris studio after the artist met him during his travels, holding a rifle and a pipe with an air of quiet nobility.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
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