Odalesque

Intermediate 🎓 Education / Academia

Definition

A misspelling of odalisque—a female slave or concubine in a harem, or in Western art, a nude or semi-nude woman depicted reclining in an exotic Oriental setting.

Example Usage

The museum's collection included several paintings of odalisques in the style of Orientalist artists.

Origin

From French 'odalisque,' derived from Turkish 'odalık' meaning chambermaid, from 'oda' (room).

Fun Fact

The term became famous in Western art during the 18th-19th centuries as part of the Orientalist artistic movement in Europe.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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