Zeden en Gewoonten der Turken

About this artwork

height 292 mm x width 465 mm

Art Historical Context

Pieter Coecke van Aelst’s *Zeden en Gewoonten der Turken* (Customs and Habits of the Turks), created in 1553, offers a fascinating glimpse into sixteenth-century European fascination with the Ottoman Empire. Working in the Flemish Renaissance tradition, Coecke van Aelst produced this work on paper as a series of prints that documented Turkish daily life, costumes, and ceremonies. The modest dimensions—roughly 29 by 46 centimeters—suggest it was designed for wide circulation, allowing viewers across Europe to encounter cultures beyond their borders through detailed observation rather than fanta...