Fille Turque, qui brode, plate 52 from "Recueil de cent estampes représentent differentes nations du Levant"

Art Historical Context

**Fille Turque, brode** (Turkish Girl Embroidering), plate 52 the *Recueil de cent estamp représentant différentes nations du Levant* (Collection of One Hundred Prints Representing Different Nations of Levant), captures an intimate moment of daily life in the Ottoman Empire. Created around 1714–15, this etching and engraving is based on paintings by Jean Baptiste Van, a Flemish artist who served as painter to the French ambassador in Istanbul. Engravers Jacques le Hay and Du Bosc translated his vivid depictions into precise prints, showcasing a young Turkish woman focused on needlework—a nod to the intricate embroidery traditions of the region. This work belongs to a celebrated series of 100 prints that introduced European audiences to the diverse peoples and customs of the Levant, from Turkey to the Eastern Mediterranean. Produced during a time of growing European curiosity about the "Orient," these images fueled the era's fascination with exotic cultures, blending documentary realism with artistic elegance. The etching and engraving techniques allowed for fine details in fabrics, poses, and expressions, making such scenes accessible beyond the elite. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (bequest of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 2019), this plate highlights women's roles in Ottoman society through the lens of craftsmanship. Measuring about 14 × 10 inches on the plate, it invites visitors to appreciate how 18th-century printmaking bridged distant worlds, preserving cultural snapshots for generations.

About the Artist

Jean Baptiste Vanmour|Jacques le Hay|Claude Du Bosc · 1671–1737

Comment on works: Architecture; Portraits; Genre; Turkish scenes