Tangiers 

Hercules Brabazon Brabazon made this watercolor painting, “Tangiers,” sometime during his travels. Brabazon, a member of the upper class, took up painting after inheriting his family’s estate and fortune. The light washes of color capture a bustling market scene, rendered through the gaze of a Western tourist. Brabazon's loose brushstrokes suggest a society teeming with life, yet viewed from a detached perspective. The buildings and people blend together, becoming an exotic tableau for the artist and, by extension, the viewer. The Orientalist style invites consideration of how Western artists have historically represented non-Western cultures. Brabazon’s work, while seemingly benign, participates in a long history of constructing the ‘Orient’ as a site of mystery and allure, reinforcing a dynamic where one culture observes and interprets another, often through a lens of power. This watercolor, therefore, is not just a depiction of a place, but also an artifact of cultural encounter, inviting us to reflect on the complexities of looking and being seen across different worlds.