Religion · 19th century
€ 230
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Very good condition with minimal foxing in the margins. Please study the images carefully.
Islamic Ritual Print Whirling Dervishes Ceremony Scene V, 1863 Dutch Lithograph
This expressive lithograph titled “De Dans der Derwîsjen (Vijfde tooneel)” or “The Dance of the Dervishes (Fifth Scene)” portrays an advanced moment in the sacred Mevlevi Sufi ceremony, widely known in the West as the whirling dervish ritual. The image transports the viewer inside a simple yet spiritually charged prayer hall where Sufi adherents, clad in long robes and traditional headgear, perform the distinctive circular dance associated with the mystical path of divine unity.
Unlike the initial solemn postures of the earlier scenes, here we witness more dynamic gestures—figures are shown in active movement, some reaching toward one another in devotional acknowledgment, while others prepare to begin the iconic turning sequence. The dervishes are arranged in a circle, symbolizing unity and cosmic order, and light enters diagonally from the windows, creating a sense of divine illumination across the room. At the head of the space, the sheikh or spiritual leader oversees the ritual, seated beneath a plaque inscribed with Arabic text, denoting the sacred and guiding presence of the divine.
This lithograph was created in 1863 as part of the Dutch illustrated series *De Voornaamste Godsdiensten* (The Principal Religions), in the volume *Het Islamisme*, written by the notable Dutch Arabist Dr. Reinhart Pieter Anne Dozy. A professor at Leiden University and one of the foremost Orientalists of his time, Dozy aimed to provide European audiences with accurate and respectful insights into Islamic and Sufi practices.
Printed by Emrik & Binger, a leading lithographic firm based in Haarlem, the work is technically precise and emotionally resonant. Their careful rendering of facial expressions, body language, and interior space conveys the solemn rhythm and intensity of the Sufi ceremony. This series of lithographs not only served an educational purpose but also functioned as one of the earliest documentary visual records of Sufi rituals produced in Europe.
Condition Summary:
Good condition with minor foxing around the edges.
Framing tips:
Use a soft cream or pale grey mat and a black or walnut-toned wooden frame to enhance the spiritual ambiance and architectural clarity of this rare 19th-century depiction of Sufi ritual life.
