Carpet Sellers 

Giulio Rosati painted 'Carpet Sellers' in the late 19th or early 20th century, likely in watercolor. This charming Orientalist scene depicts two men engaged in commerce in what appears to be the Middle East, based on the architecture and attire. The painting creates meaning through established visual codes. At the time it was made, the European art market was fascinated by romanticized, exoticized visions of the "Orient". Rosati catered to this demand, constructing a world that reflects European fantasies more than any lived reality. The clothing, the carpets, and the very act of trading tap into European ideas about Middle Eastern culture. To understand this painting fully, we need to delve into the history of Orientalism, researching how European artists and institutions shaped perceptions of other cultures. We must ask, what role did art play in the colonial era, and whose stories were being told? Only then can we truly understand the layers of meaning embedded in this seemingly simple scene.