Assouan, Egypt 1896

Editor: So, this is "Assouan, Egypt" by Denman Waldo Ross. I find the brushwork quite loose, almost impressionistic, and it gives the scene a kind of dreamy quality. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Considering its place within the Orientalist movement, how do you think Ross's depiction of Assouan contributes to the Western gaze on Egypt? Does it romanticize or authentically represent the culture and its people? Editor: It's true, the light definitely romanticizes it. It makes me wonder about the motivations behind depicting a place so different from his own. Curator: Exactly. Understanding those motivations reveals how cultural power dynamics play out through art. Hopefully, it reveals that for our listeners, as well.