Authors

Discussion

This paper builds on Polish historian Jan Kieniewicz’s concept of “Orientalness,” developed in the 1990s, which examines the cultural and historical influences of the "East" on Poland, particularly during periods of Ottoman and later Russian imperial domination. Kieniewicz argued that Eastern Europe, especially its southeastern regions, developed a distinct cultural identity shaped by prolonged interactions with Eastern powers. This "Orientalness" disrupts the Saidian East-West binary, representing a nuanced fusion of Western European and Eastern traditions. To illustrate this concept, the paper analyzes the works of Józef Brandt, a prominent 19th-century Polish painter known for his depictions of scenes from the eastern borderlands of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. By examining Brandt's paintings, I uncover the intricate interplay of national pride, a pro-independence ethos, and (self-)exoticization that defines his artistic vision. These elements, I argue, reflect broader trends in Polish art of the late 19th century, offering valuable insight into how the Polish cultural imagination negotiated its place at the intersection of Eastern and Western influences during a time of political subjugation and cultural resistance.