Arabs making their horses drink 1851

Théodore Chassériau likely painted this oil on canvas to appeal to a French audience interested in romanticized visions of the Arab world. Consider how Chassériau uses the loose brushstrokes and warm color palette to evoke a sense of exoticism. He seems less concerned with the realities of labor and more interested in creating an alluring scene. The artist's quick, painterly technique certainly contrasts with the skilled labor and material realities of saddle making, weaving, and metalworking. Although Chassériau romanticizes the scene, the painting hints at the complex relationship between labor, class, and orientalism. Perhaps by acknowledging this painting’s context, we can move towards more nuanced understandings of cultural exchange and representation in art.