"Orientalism" is widely used in art to refer to the works of the many, mostly European, 19th century artists, who specialized in "Oriental" subjects. They travelled mainly as addendums to larger groups of archeologists, scientists, traders and explorers, hired initially in these pre photography days to record the sights and general exotica of the Levant eventually travelling onward into the Middle and Far East.

The early works of many of the artists in this catalogue are already of great historical importance. Paintings from before the camel track moved down the Al Ain road before the Souk and the Bastakiya were restored, when Jumeira Beach was wild and goats roamed the streets of Bur Dubai. These artists are just one more step in the long tradition of Orientalism and in time will be equally collectable.