LUNCH AT THE FOOT OF THE PYRAMIDS, GIZEH

WHILE VINCK IS KNOWN PRIMARILY FOR HIS RELIGIOUS AND HISTORICAL PAINTINGS, HE WAS ALSO DRAWN TOWARDS THE ARTISTIC POSSIBILITIES OFFERED BY ORIENTALISM. IN THE VISIT TO THE PYRAMIDS IN GIZEH, EGYPT, VINCK SETS OUT HIS CAST OF CHARACTERS IN AN ALMOST THEATRICAL WAY, CAPTURING IN STRONG CHIAROSCURO THE FASCINATION AND RESERVATION WITH WHICH EAST BEGAN TO MEET WEST AT THE END OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY AS TOURISM BECAME A FASHIONABLE PURSUIT FOR THE EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN MIDDLE CLASSES. VINCK'S VISION OF GIZEH IS IN STRONG CONTRAST TO THAT OF CHARLES-THéODORE FRèRE (SEE LOT 200) FOR WHOM A VISION OF AN ETERNAL EAST, UNAFFECTED BY MODERN WESTERN CONCERNS, REMAINED PARAMOUNT.