Representations of Ottoman Interpreters by Western Painters

Gürçağlar, Aykut (2004) Representations of Ottoman Interpreters by Western Painters. Acta Orientalia, 57 (2). pp. 231-242. ISSN 0001-6446

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Abstract

This study explores the representations of Ottoman interpreters in a number of selected paintings and engravings by western artists. The purpose of the paper is to describe and analyse the position of the interpreter as a political and diplomatic figure within the pictorial composition, basing itself in historical facts about Ottoman interpreters. I will start the paper by a brief discussion on the history of the interpreting profession in the Ottoman Empire and then move on to exploring the paintings where I will touch upon issues such as the traditional costumes, postures and physical positions of interpreters. I will question whether these elements were uniform in different representations by different artists or whether they displayed certain variances.

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