Harem Guard 

Rudolf Ernst painted this image of a Harem Guard with oil on canvas sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. Here, the very surface of the painting is part of its appeal. Ernst was known for his orientalist scenes that depicted the “exotic” Middle East, and he laid the paint on with great care to render the textures of tilework, textiles, and metalwork. The silky quality of the guard’s robe, the intricate inlaid mother-of-pearl on the box, and the deep pile of the rug, all demonstrate Ernst’s skill as a painter. But there is a social dimension to this material abundance too. Ernst’s work, like that of other orientalist painters, fed the European appetite for luxury goods and romantic fantasies of life beyond Europe’s borders. This painting, therefore, isn't just an image; it’s also a commodity, designed to be consumed by a European audience eager for a glimpse into a world of opulence and intrigue.