Circassierinn (Circassian Woman)

Description

The term "Circassienne" was used in 18. and 19. century European art to describe Circassian women of Caucasian origin, fair-skinned women renowned for their graceful beauty. This depiction was not merely an ethnographic representation; it also became an aesthetic ideal for European artists, symbolizing the mysterious femininity of the East. The woman's posture and gesture of silence in the engraving are both a subtle expression of the mysterious wisdom attributed to the East and a reflection of one's inner self.