Petra. Ancient Watch-Tower 

David Roberts made this print of Petra, Jordan, in the early 19th century, a period when Europeans were increasingly curious about the Middle East. This image presents Petra as an exotic frontier. Here, the ancient architecture blends seamlessly with the natural rock formations, while the local inhabitants and their camels populate the foreground, emphasizing the timelessness and remoteness of the location. Roberts's work helped shape popular perceptions of the region, fitting into a broader history of Western artists representing the 'Orient' as mysterious and unchanging. Understanding this print requires us to consider the context of British Orientalism and travel. By consulting travel journals, historical accounts, and studies of Orientalist art, we can begin to understand how this image contributed to the construction of cultural narratives and power dynamics between the West and the Middle East. The meaning of this image lies in its complex relationship to the society that produced it.