The orient and the mystical images it evokes have always been a special source of inspiration in the history of european painting. From the Venetian portrayal of the Renaissance and the first examples of Turkish Fashion to the heyday of the 19th century and the Tunis paintings by August Macke and Paul Klee, this volume traces the development of the oriental motif in painting. Geographically so near, culturally so different, the countries of the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa have influenced both the oriental vogue of the baroque period and also the popular oriental genre in the fine arts. At the same time, the mysterious aura of the orient has repeatedly served as a romantically idealized counterpoint and escape route for european fantasies. Features Individual chapters devoted to important artists including Delacroix, Picasso, and Kandinsky extensive articles on special themes such as the image of the harem and the oriental fantasies of the Impressionists.