The Butcher and Other Tartar Merchants 1841

Auguste Raffet made this lithograph, titled "The Butcher and Other Tartar Merchants," in France in the mid-19th century. Here, Raffet presents a scene of everyday commerce, one that reflects France's growing interest in, and complex relationship with, the Ottoman world. The image creates meaning through the juxtaposition of the familiar and the foreign. The detailed rendering of the butcher shop and the relaxed postures of the merchants offer a sense of realism. However, the "Tartar" label exoticizes the scene, placing it within a broader narrative of Orientalism prevalent at the time. France was expanding its colonial reach, and images like these played a role in shaping public perceptions of other cultures. Raffet was celebrated for his military scenes but this image, seemingly benign, hints at the subtle politics embedded in depictions of foreign lands and peoples. Understanding the print requires considering the institutional context of 19th-century French printmaking, as well as archival sources about France’s imperial ambitions in North Africa and the Middle East.