One of the tombs of the caliphs, Cairo. 1846 - 1849

David Roberts created this watercolor, "One of the tombs of the caliphs, Cairo," using paper and pigments. In this period, watercolors were commonly used for travel sketches, a way of efficiently capturing scenes before the advent of photography. What I find fascinating here is how the artist approaches the depiction of building materials. The striped masonry is rendered with incredible precision, giving us a clear sense of the built environment. Look closely, and you’ll notice the artist has taken great care to depict the stone textures. The wear and variations in color are all carefully observed, and the whole drawing is structured with straight lines and planes. The medium of watercolor, often associated with spontaneity, is here employed with detailed precision to represent the enduring architecture. By giving us a palpable sense of the labor and skill required to raise these grand structures, Roberts invites us to consider the deep cultural history embedded in the very stones. The artist challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and the so-called "minor" arts like building and construction.