A Lady in a Turkish Dress
William Wynne Ryland British
After Angelica Kauffmann Swiss
Not on view
This image of a European woman wearing Turkish dress testifies to the long-lived Western fascination with harems and their inhabitants. In this instance, the work, designed by a woman, suggests freedom rather than confinement. The costume is fairly accurate and consists of a loose, open chemise (gömlek), voluminous trousers (shalwar), a waistcoat (yelek), an open gown (entari), a turban, and slippers. Although designed for indoors, the outfit is worn here in a garden, signifying the comfort and ease of movement Turkish garments afforded Westerners. Ryland used stipple to render the design; the soft effect is accentuated by the use of several colors, which bled into one another at their edges as a result of hand-inking.
