Marionettes In The Harem 

Theodoros Ralli painted this oil on canvas, Marionettes in the Harem, towards the end of the 19th Century. Oil paints are traditionally applied in thin glazes, or in impasto with expressive brushstrokes, yet here, Ralli has employed them to create smooth surfaces. In so doing, he mimics the textures of other materials that are depicted in the artwork, such as the pearlescent oyster shell inlay on the puppet theatre. Ralli has skillfully depicted the texture of the cloth and the intricate detail of the Iznik tiles. The use of these materials emphasizes the exoticism of the scene. This attention to detail and texture elevates the artwork beyond a mere depiction of an exotic scene. It invites the viewer to consider the labor and skill involved in creating the material culture of the harem, and thus the painting itself. By drawing our attention to the material dimensions of cultural production, this work reminds us that the seemingly rarefied world of fine art is always intimately connected to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption.