The hot sands, Mustapha, Algiers 1891

Charles Conder likely painted this scene in Algiers using oil on canvas, a traditional medium that allowed him to capture the subtleties of light and color. The way Conder has applied the paint, with visible brushstrokes, is crucial to the image’s hazy atmosphere. The surface becomes a record of his movements, almost like the fleeting experience of a hot day in a foreign landscape. He’s engaged with the traditions of fine art here, but also with impressionism, which was all about capturing immediate sensory experience. Consider the labor involved – from preparing the canvas to mixing the paints. This was an era when artists relied on industrial production for their materials, but still used hand skill to realize their vision. Ultimately, by paying close attention to the materials and the making, we see how Conder translates a moment into a tangible artwork. He bridges the gap between the world of craft and the world of fine art.