Arabische markt 1865 - 1930

Jac van Looij created this pencil drawing, Arabische markt, rendering a North African marketplace in a light, sketch-like fashion. Van Looij belonged to a generation of Dutch artists who looked to international sources for inspiration. The drawing gives us insight into how Western artists perceived and represented non-European cultures. It reflects the cultural dynamics and the power imbalances inherent in the colonial gaze. During this period, the "Orient" was often romanticized and exoticized, a perspective evident here in the artist’s focus on the bustling scene filled with figures draped in traditional attire. What does it mean to represent a culture that isn’t your own? Are we celebrating diversity or are we perpetuating stereotypes? What is the power dynamic at play between the artist and his subject? This piece invites us to reflect on the complexities of cultural representation and to consider the emotions, stories, and lived realities of those depicted.