The attraction of the Orient in the 19th century was not only a fantasy. Romanticism has created a mythical Orient, land of dream and passion, eternal and unchanging symbol.
Painters, poets, writers took the initiation journey, searching their origin in the cradle of the major faiths. They brought back a new light and the colour that can only be found around the Mediterranean sea, as well as new themes of inspiration.
Rembrant was the first one to paint Orientalist paintings. He painted his women dressed with rich garments and adorned with Ottoman pieces of jewellery.
Eugene Delacroix, the first one to travel to the Orient, went to Morocco and Algeria.
His influence was tremendous on the artists of his time, and was still vivid long after. He can be called the first authentic Orientalist painter. Orientalism needs two components: on one hand a desire of truth and faithfulness, and on the other hand the mystery and the dream.
Orientalism lasted over a period of 100 years. The first generation of painters can be called travellers. They went to the Orient and painted on the spot. They are faithful witnesses. Théodore Frere, Eugène Girardet or Prosper Marilhat visited the Orient many times, going from Algeria to Palestine through Egypt and Turkey. They are topographers, witnesses of local habits and customs.
Returning from their oriental journey, the second generation of painters, work at their studio. Their paintings reflect onirism and poetry like Edouard Richter or Fabio Fabbi. The third generation turned towards Africanism.

We have chosen to classify the paintings by themes rather than by country because it seems more faithful to the vision of the nineteenth century artists.