Art history research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Art history - Research Paper ExampleVarious artworks came up as a result of colonization, particularly decently about the time when Europe took interest in colonization. One particular artwork that peaked my interest is that of The Wo manpower of Algiers in their Apartment by a French artist called Eugene Delacroix. Laurel Ma wrote an article about this painting. Eugene Delacroix was a popular French artist whose artwork was hailed all over Europe. Therefore it didnt answer as a surprise when the state of France decided to tag him along on a diplomatic mission to North Africa just two geezerhood since Algiers was invaded. This was around the time Delacroix drew the painting of The Women of Algiers in their Apartment in 1834. The timing that the painting came out, which is also the time the French went to Algiers, is suspicious and rightfully so. It tends to discharge some light on the imperialist intentions that the French had towards Algiers. Most paintings by the Orientalists w ere prejudiced against the Orients in such a way as to incite the Westerners to colonise them in the name of doing them a favor. Most of it revolved around sex in particular. The Orientalists would draw paintings with naked women in them as if waiting for the European men to come and save them from the supposed tyranny of their husbands. Of course, a great deal of this work was more of imagination than reality. All the more reason why Delacroixs work received major applause as it was seen to be more authentic and the fact that it contains aspects that make it seem both imaginative and real caught a lot of peoples attention. The Women of Algiers in their Apartment clearly shows the lifestyle of the people of North Africa. The women often stayed in their harem, which is a sacred place limit only to the women and their husband. No other person other than the servants was allowed in the harem. Delacroix draws a harem with three women in it along with one black servant adult female hol ding the curtain. Contrary to popular belief as depicted by the works of other Orientalists, the women in this painting do not in whatsoever way suggest any sexual intentions. This came as a confusion to many as people were used to paintings with naked women obviously arousing and inviting the sexual desires make those who saw it. In other words, the regular paintings were demeaning to the cultures and values of the people in the East. In Delacroixs painting the women are fully clothed, almost in a way to suggest that they are overdressed. This could be seen as the painters way of proving a point, trying to atone for the mistakes off his fellow artists by clearly stating that the women in the Orients were respectable and were not to e objectified sexually. The painting doesnt show women yearning or the presence of a man, rather they are sluttish and content with the current situation where they have time to themselves. The room in the painting is lavished with oriental objects su ch as glass vases and various patterns on the piece of furniture that relate to the style associated with Orients. There is a servant drawing a curtain. This is to depict the dramatic way in which the harem is unveiled for the authorized Islamic male but now in the painting, the colonizer gets a glance of what he shouldnt see. The women in the painting are covered in blankets to corroborate the stereotype that suggests