verb
- to make something Oriental in character, style, or appearance; to adopt or imitate Oriental features or aesthetics
- to turn toward or face the east; to orient
Usage: present participle of orientalize; often used in art history and cultural studies
Usage: archaic or rare usage
adjective
- characterized by or showing the process of making something Oriental in style or character
Usage: used to describe art, design, or cultural practices influenced by or imitating Oriental elements
Examples
- The 19th-century painters were orientalizing their compositions with exotic fabrics and architectural elements.
- The designer's orientalizing approach incorporated traditional Asian motifs into modern furniture.
- Critics argued that the museum's orientalizing display perpetuated stereotypes about Eastern cultures.
- The architect was orientalizing the building's facade with decorative arches and intricate tilework.
- Scholars study how European artists were orientalizing their work during the colonial period.
- The fashion collection featured orientalizing patterns inspired by Persian and Indian textiles.