About this sheet
Persian Woman in Veil, Cornelis de Bruyn Travel Engraving, 1704
Original antique engraving titled “Femme Persienne,” depicting a Persian woman dressed in a long, enveloping veil and traditional costume.
The female figure stands almost entirely concealed beneath layers of flowing fabric, with only her eyes visible through the face covering. The dramatic treatment of the drapery and the dark architectural background create a particularly striking image of early 18th-century European representations of Persian dress.
The engraving appears directly within a page of French text describing Persian clothing and customs, retaining the fascinating context in which European readers originally encountered the image. The surrounding text discusses the dress and headdresses of Persian men and women.
Associated with the travels of Cornelis de Bruyn (1652–c.1727), the Dutch artist, author and traveler known for his extensive journeys through the Levant, Persia and other parts of the Middle East and Asia. De Bruyn's travel accounts were richly illustrated with views, antiquities, architecture, people and regional costumes observed during his journeys.
The plate is titled within the image “Femme Persienne.”
An evocative early ethnographic and costume image documenting European perceptions of Persian women's dress at the beginning of the 18th century. Particularly decorative for collectors of Persian and Iranian history, historical fashion, travel literature and Middle Eastern subjects.
Cornelis de Bruyn (1652–c.1727)
Femme Persienne
1704
Original engraving
Printed on a complete book page with contemporary French text
This is an original antique engraving, not a modern reproduction.
Condition:
Good antique condition with age-related toning, scattered light foxing and spotting, minor marks and handling wear. Some light creasing and surface imperfections are visible, consistent with a book page more than 300 years old. The engraved image remains strong and well defined. Please study the photographs carefully as they form part of the condition description.
Period:
Early 18th Century
Style:
Baroque
Grand Tour
Orientalist / Travel
Ethnographic
Costume
Medium:
Engraving on laid paper
Subject:
Persian Woman
Persia
Iran
Female Costume
Veil
Middle Eastern Dress
Travel
Ethnography
