Partie supérieure d’un tableau représentant le sacrifice Egyptien d’une vierge au Nil [The Upper Part of a Painting Representing the Egyptian Sacrifice of a Virgin to the Nile] 1867

Federico Faruffini made this print, "The Upper Part of a Painting Representing the Egyptian Sacrifice of a Virgin to the Nile," in 1869. The composition presents a frieze-like arrangement of figures and architectural elements against the backdrop of the Nile. The artist uses a muted palette, primarily in monochrome, which lends the scene a sense of historical distance. Lines are used to define form and texture with the reflections on the water adding depth. The architecture is solid and geometric which contrasts the more fluid forms of the figures, creating a tension. Faruffini seems concerned with exploring the theme of cultural and religious practices, filtered through the lens of 19th-century orientalism. What the artist might be saying is that it destabilizes notions of cultural superiority, inviting viewers to question their own values and assumptions when confronted with the beliefs and rituals of other civilizations. The rigid structure is set against the sacrifice of a virgin, underscoring the contrast between social structures and human life.