Gustave Moreau was brought up in the classical Western tradition, but a great influence on the artist had his acquaintance with the exotic culture of distant countries, from different times and peoples.
His collected photographs, his own sketches and sketches speak of a wide range of his interests. He eagerly learned about everything: about the Alhambra castle in Spain and the Aztec temple temples in Mexico, about the African Hottentots and snake charmers from Cairo. But most of all the artist attracted East. Thanks to two large art exhibitions of the peoples of Asia, held in Paris in 1867 and 1873-74, Moreau was able to get acquainted with Japanese prints, Persian miniatures, sculpture and architecture of India.
Moro’s passion was reflected in his works – for example, in the beautiful watercolor “Peri”, certainly inspired by miniatures of the Mogul era exhibited in the Louvre, as well as in the artist’s fantasies on “exotic themes” that led to the emergence of the painting “Samson and Dolil” 1881-82. Another confirmation of his rich imagination can serve as the dress and posture of Sappho 1871-72, which are reminiscent of the engravings of the Japanese artist Kunisada – his album Moreau acquired it was in those years in an antique shop.
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