The Pyramids with the Sphinx and Palms 1858

Editor: So, this is "The Pyramids with the Sphinx and Palms" by Edward Lear. It's undated, but the medium is listed as watercolor on paper. I'm struck by the vastness of the scene, and the small figures seem so insignificant against those massive pyramids. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a commentary on colonialism. Lear, as a Western artist, is capturing an iconic image of Egypt, framing it for a European audience. Note how the figures and the palms are positioned almost to exoticize the landscape. Editor: Exoticize, in what way? Curator: By emphasizing the "otherness" of the scene, catering to Western expectations of the Orient. The Sphinx is almost an afterthought, secondary to the pyramids themselves as symbols of power and mystery. Do you think Lear is romanticizing or documenting? Editor: That's interesting! I thought he was documenting, but now I see the romanticizing viewpoint. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, food for thought on the public role of art and power.