Le jour des funérailles – Scène du Maroc 1889

Jean-Joseph Benjamin Constant painted this poignant scene of a funeral in Morocco. Dominating the composition is the shrouded body of the deceased, surrounded by symbols of status and remembrance: weapons, roses, and fine textiles. Consider the white shrouds. It appears not only here, but also in countless other depictions of death across cultures. It evokes purity, peace, and the transition to the afterlife. In ancient Greece, similar garments were used, and even in early Christian art. The act of veiling or shrouding speaks to a universal human response to death—a desire to protect, to sanctify, and to mark a boundary between the living and the dead. Notice how this motif has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings, engaging us on a deep, subconscious level.