Praying in the Desert 

Rudolf Ernst, an Austrian Orientalist painter, created "Praying in the Desert". Orientilist art emerged during the 19th century. Western artists depicted “the Orient”—North Africa and the Middle East— through exoticized, often fantasized lenses. In this painting, we see a man in a golden robe, presumably Muslim, in what seems to be a moment of profound devotion. His posture and expression convey a deep connection to his faith. He stands on his prayer rug with his hands raised towards the sky. It’s important to remember that these paintings often reflect the West's fascination with, and sometimes misrepresentation of, cultures it deemed “other.” The desert landscape, almost a blank slate, functions as a backdrop that is meant to evoke feelings of mysticism. Ernst’s work is less about truthfully representing the complexities of Islamic faith and more about creating a visual narrative that catered to European audiences. Ultimately, the image serves as a reminder of the power dynamics inherent in how cultures perceive and represent one another.