Femme Juive, en habit de cèrèmonie, plate 64 from "Recueil de cent estampes représentent differentes nations du Levant"

Art Historical Context

**Femme Juive, en habit de cèrèmonie** (Jewish Woman in Ceremonial Dress), plate 64 from the *Recueil de cent estampes représentant différentes nations du Levant* (Collection of One Hundred Prints Representing Different Nations of the Levant), captures the intricate details of Ottoman-era attire from the early 18th century. Created around 1714–15, this etching and engraving reproduces a painting by Jean Baptiste Vanmour, a French artist who documented life in Istanbul for European audiences. Engravings by Gérard Jean Baptiste Scotin I and published by Jacques le Hay, it showcases a Jewish woman in her ceremonial garments, highlighting the cultural diversity of the Levant—the eastern Mediterranean region under Ottoman rule. This print belongs to a celebrated series of 100 plates that served as an ethnographic record, blending artistry with curiosity about "exotic" peoples. Vanmour's vivid depictions, faithfully translated through the precise techniques of etching (for fluid lines) and engraving (for sharp details), made these images widely accessible via affordable reproductions. Such works fueled Europe's fascination with Orientalism, offering glimpses into Jewish communities and their traditions amid the multicultural Levant. Today, housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Bequest of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 2019), this 16 7/16 × 12 1/8 in. sheet invites visitors to appreciate not just its technical finesse but also its role in bridging cultures across centuries.

About the Artist

Jacques le Hay|Jean Baptiste Vanmour|Gérard Jean Baptiste Scotin I (French| ) · 1671 |1650 –1737 |1750

French, Valenciennes 1671–1737 Istanbul (Constantinople)|