The expanding European colonization of Africa, Middle East and Southeast Asia brought the mania for Orientalism into the Western world. Romanticized Eastern exoticism attracted western artists who actively used the Orient themes and motifs in visual arts, architecture, music and performing arts from the beginning of the XIX century.

Orientalism sneaked into the world of fashion design in the 1910s with new fabrics, like silk and chiffon, vivid colours and much more lithe, fluid and soft silhouette. These years are characterized with the popularity of flowing pantaloons, turbans, kimonos, tunics and hobble skirts.

Henri Privat-Livemont, Rajah, 1899

Marià Fortuny, The Odalisque, 1861

Henri Meunier, Thé Rajah, 1897

Ramon Casas, Atelier Casas & Utrillo​, 1898

Utagawa Kunisada, Terutehime and Koshimoto Kaoyo, 1847-1848 and Francesc Masriera, After the Ball, 1886

Pere Casas Abarca, Esclave, circa 1900; Eugène Samuel Grasset, Exposition Internationale de Madrid, 1893 and Pere Casas Abarca, Fatima, circa 1900

Francesc Masriera, In the Presence of the Lord, 1891; Pere Casas Abarca, Extase, circa 1900 and Eduardo Chicharro, Woman with a Kimono in Profile​, circa 1913-1925

Josep Tapiró, Berber Bride, circa 1896 and Joan Cardona, Woman Dressed Up, circa 1918

Pere Casas Abarca, Langueur, circa 1900 and Hermen Anglada Camarasa, Woman from Granada, circa 191

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