Sukovataya, V. A., Fisun, E. G. East and Femininity in Writings of Russian and French Orientalists: Inversion of Gaze

Abstract: The authors of the article study semantics and evolution of the “East” in the West European and Russian orientalism paintings of the 19th century on the materials of the works by J.A.D. Ingres, E. Delacroix, V. Vereschagin. The target of the study is to analyze evolution of the Eastern woman’s images in the West-European and Russian orientalism in the context of evolution of the dialogue between the East and the West. It is proved that semantics of “East” is closely connected with semantics of femininity. The novelty of work is caused by several facts: 1) the study is about not only aesthetical but also ideological differences between French (West European) and Russian orientalism (V. Vereschagin); 2) development of the Postmodernist and Feminist concept of gaze (that was founded by Laura Mulvey) based on the classical paintings of the 19th century; 3) demonstration of the “inversion” opportunities of gaze in the orientalist painting; 4) the study analyzes specifics of the dialogue between the East and the West in the West European and Russian paintings of the 19th century.

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