Danish artists in 19th century Rome wore fez and smoked hookahs:
(a short thread on global art and culture)
(a short thread on global art and culture)
During the 19th century, Rome was considered a very important city by Danish writers and artists.
Living in Rome for them was a crucial part of their artistic development.
It was sort of like an artistic pilgrimage for them.
Living in Rome for them was a crucial part of their artistic development.
It was sort of like an artistic pilgrimage for them.
The photo in the first tweet is that of a painting titled "Self-portrait with Danish Artists in Rome, 1837" by Constantin Hansen (1804-1880), a famous 19th century Danish painter.
Half sitting, half-lying on the floor is the architect Gottlieb Bindesbøll (1800-1856) talking about his recent visit to Greece.
Greece until the start of the 19th century, was part of the Ottoman Empire.
What's interesting is that Bindesbøll is wearing a fez (hat).
Greece until the start of the 19th century, was part of the Ottoman Empire.
What's interesting is that Bindesbøll is wearing a fez (hat).
Named after the Moroccan city of Fez, the headgear became popular in Ottoman Turkey.
In contemporary popular culture, Turkish dervishes are often shown wearing fez.
[Photo by Ferdy Aprilyandi on Unsplash]
In contemporary popular culture, Turkish dervishes are often shown wearing fez.
[Photo by Ferdy Aprilyandi on Unsplash]
In her biography of Hans Christian Andersen, Jackie Wullschlager writes that Danish artists in Rome at the time also smoked hookahs.
[Photo by Tolga Ahmetler on Unsplash]
[Photo by Tolga Ahmetler on Unsplash]
A Hookah is a water-pipe used to smoke tobacco. The smoke is passed through water before inhalation.
Hookah (probably) originated during the 16th century Mughal India and/or Safavid Iran.
It must have traveled to Europe during the colonial rule.
Hookah (probably) originated during the 16th century Mughal India and/or Safavid Iran.
It must have traveled to Europe during the colonial rule.
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1. Scroll to the top and retweet the first tweet to share this bit of global cultural history with others.
2. Follow me @MushtaqBilalPhD for more threads like this.
I also tweet about academic writing but you already knew that, right?
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