View of the tombs of the caliphs of Cairo 1900

Hermann Corrodi created this oil on canvas painting, depicting the tombs of the caliphs of Cairo. The scene is suffused with a warm, sandy light, achieved through Corrodi's masterful handling of the oil paint medium. Here, the artist’s skill lies in building up layers of color to suggest the textures and forms of the buildings, figures, and desert landscape. Notice how the thickness and direction of the brushstrokes not only capture the play of light, but also convey a sense of the gritty, sun-baked environment. The paint itself becomes a material evocation of the scene. Corrodi's technique reflects the academic tradition of painting, where skilled application and manipulation of materials was prized. But this was also a commercial enterprise, catering to a European fascination with the "Orient." In viewing this work, we should not only admire the artist's skill, but also consider the broader social and economic forces at play. By focusing on the materiality and making of artworks, we can gain deeper insight into their cultural significance.