A scene of public justice in the ruins of a Moroccan city 1870

Alfred Dehodencq sketched this "Scene of Public Justice in the Ruins of a Moroccan City" on paper with pen and ink sometime in the 19th century. The quick, energetic strokes of the pen, combined with the ink wash, give the scene a sense of immediacy and rawness. Dehodencq wasn't interested in producing a polished academic painting. Instead, the rough quality of the drawing reflects the tumultuous subject matter. The ruins of the city, rapidly sketched in the background, mirror the state of justice being meted out in the foreground. The drawing's sketch-like nature is very telling. It’s almost as if the artist captured a fleeting moment, a glimpse into a society in flux. By choosing such humble materials, Dehodencq focuses attention on the social context he's depicting. The artwork becomes a document of a specific time and place. It prompts us to consider the relationship between artistic creation, the depiction of justice, and the social realities of 19th-century Morocco.