Full Moon Over Luxor Ruins, Off the Nile 9 - 1876

Lockwood de Forest’s small oil painting “Full Moon Over Luxor Ruins, Off the Nile” presents a muted scene of the famous Egyptian site. De Forest was part of the late 19th-century artistic movement that engaged with the “Orient,” often interpreting it through a Western lens. De Forest's travels to places like Egypt, India, and the Middle East placed him within a larger historical context of Western artists seeking inspiration from non-Western cultures. Yet, this artistic exchange was often tinged with the power dynamics of colonialism and cultural appropriation. Here, we must consider how the depiction of ancient ruins in a distant land speaks to the complex relationship between Western artists and the cultures they encountered. The painting evokes a sense of timelessness and mystery. The ruins under the moon invite us to contemplate the passage of time, the rise and fall of civilizations, and the emotional resonance of places imbued with history. It’s a quiet, reflective piece. It prompts us to consider the ways in which we engage with cultures and histories that are not our own.