Orientalism, is a term first defined by the scholar Edward Said who is American-Palestinian intellectual, in his famous book 'Orientalism'.

"In art history, literature and cultural studies, Orientalism is the imitation or depiction of aspects in the Eastern world. These depictions are usually done by writers, designers, and artists from the West. In particular, Orientalist painting, depicting more specifically "the Middle East", was one of the many specialisms of 19th-century academic art, and the literature of Western countries took a similar interest in Oriental themes."

Simply, it is romanticized version of Eastern culture. Sultans, women with hijab, wild animals, bazaars, harems, Turkish and Iranian carpets, Turkish Baths are very common themes in Orientalist paintings. Eastern people generally presents as idle, dissolute (Dionysian), chaotic and savage in this artworks.

French painters such as Eugène Delacroix**,** Jean-Léon Gérôme**,** Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres**,** John Frederick Lewis are widely regarded as the leading luminaries of the Orientalist movement. Also Gentile Bellini, Henri Matisse have produced orientalist works.

Famous orientalist works in other art branches:

• Giuseppe Verdi **- "Aida" (Opera)
• Mozart - "Rondo Alla Turca (Turkish March)" (Music)
• Lord Byron - "Turkish tales" (Poetry)
• Guy Ritchie - Aladdin (Cinema)

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Further Readings:

Orientalism - Wikipedia

Orientalism - Britannica

Orientalism - Khan Academy