Beschrijving

Image of the Turks in the 17th Century Europe is an illustrated cultural history book that explores how the Ottoman Turks were perceived and represented in 17th-century Europe. Published in connection with exhibitions and research from the Sakıp Sabancı Museum, the book combines visual material and commentary to trace the images, attitudes and artistic portrayals of the Turks in European art, prints, and cultural documents of that period.

The work considers a variety of subjects and contexts, including diplomatic encounters, costume and fashion, Orientalist imagery, and symbolic depictions in painting and print media. It investigates how European artists and audiences imagined Ottoman culture — often through both fascination and stereotypes — during a century when political, military and commercial contacts between the Ottoman Empire and European states were frequent and impactful.

Throughout its richly illustrated pages, the book situates these representations within broader historical and cultural frameworks, showing how art both reflected and shaped European understandings of the “Turk.” The result is a visual-historical narrative that illuminates cross-cultural perceptions in early modern Europe, offering insights into identity, otherness and artistic exchange during the 17th century