Museum Exhibition
Orientalism: Between Fact and Fantasy
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
June 12, 2026 – February 28, 2027
Orientalism: Between Fact and Fantasy is the first exhibition at The Met to explore Orientalism as its central focus
Exhibition artworks
Representative work
Victor Marie de Launay
L'architecture ottomane : ouvrage autorisé par iradé impérial et publié sous le patronage de Son Excellence Edhem Pacha, ministère des travaux publics, président de la Commission Impérial Ottomane pour l'Exposition Universelle de 1873 à Vienne
1873
Chromolithography, lithography
vii, 86, 58 pages, 190 leaves of plates in various foliations : illustrations (some color) ; Height: 20 1/2 in. (52 cm) x 14 15/16 in. (38 cm)
View artwork at the museumFeatured works
Rafael Contreras
Architectural Model Based on the Alhambra
1847-1890
Plaster (original stucco, tiling and wood) colored.
H. 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm) W. 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm) D. 15/16 in. (2.4 cm)
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Sudan
Tanbūra
19th century
wood, skin, various materials
L. 54.5 cm.; W. 15 cm.; D. 10 cm.
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Caucasian
Miquelet Pistol
19th century; grip, dated A.H. 1268/1851–2 CE
Steel, silver, ivory, leather, niello
L. 17 3/8 in. (44.1 cm); L. of barrel 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm); Cal. .54 in (13.7 mm); Wt. 1 lb. 11.5 oz. (779.6 g)
View at museumAlice Cordelia Morse
The Alhambra
1892
Cream cloth covered boards with gold, green and blue decoration
8 15/16 × 14 3/16 in. (22.7 × 36 cm) Other: 8 15/16 x 6 in. (22.7 x 15.3 cm) Other: 8 15/16 × 8 3/16 in. (22.7 × 20.8 cm)
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Jean-Louis Moré
Watch
ca. 1830
Case of gold and enamel, with floral design; jeweled movement, with cylinder escapement
2 3/16 x 3/8 in. (5.6 x 1cm); Diameter: 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm)
View at museumE. & H. T. Anthony
[Music Stand, Central Park, New York]
1870s
Albumen silver print
Image: 2 15/16 × 6 1/16 in. (7.5 × 15.4 cm) Sheet: 3 7/16 × 6 7/8 in. (8.7 × 17.5 cm)
View at museum30 documented works in this exhibition
View all 30 documented works