Orientalismi: Delacroix, Klee e Boetti tra viaggio e alterità

Abstract

According to Said (Orientalism: western conceptions of the orient) an idealized and stereotyped vision of Orient developed since XIX century. This stereotypes were perceived like unchangeable: the difference between men were considered natural and unmodifiable. The marks of this rhetoric can be found in some contemporary artists’s poetics: Eugene Delacroix in Morocco, Paul Klee in Tunisia and Alighiero Boetti in Afghanistan make experiences with the outcome of breakthrough artistic language, technical and poetry for their activity. The issue of travel characterized formation of artist and literate throughout history and, Orient’s travel, was extremely important. The essay, that not meant to be comprehensive, would analyze Delacroix, Klee and Boetti’s works with Said Orientalism’s methodology. Each of them has a different perception of the foreign culture to which is approached. Delacroix’s notes show paternalistic attitude of french imperialism, although he shall enjoy exotic beauty of North Africa. Morocco’s trip became a chance to study a different reality with the purpose of increase his background. Paul Klee, during his stay in Tunisia, enhances color like primay subject of his research: color have a greater weight in his painting because considered bringer of a very lyrical countenance. Alighiero Boetti since 1971 establish a indissoluble’s relationship with Afghanistan, that become concrete through the help of afghan women’s labour in the Maps . His travels provoke him conceptual interest for the other cultures. Despite their existence are placed in a pre-globalization epoch, their resarches and their works are the results of transcultural experience.