The Harem 1925

Editor: This is Eric Gill's "The Harem," a small wood engraving. The stark black and white and the subject matter feel incredibly loaded. What do you see when you look at this, considering Gill's other works and the history of such themes? Curator: Gill's problematic personal life is impossible to ignore here. The male figure pulling the woman, the objectification of the other women... It speaks to power dynamics, doesn't it? How does this image perpetuate or challenge orientalist fantasies of the "harem" as a space of exoticism and male dominance? Editor: That's a difficult thing to grapple with, but important. It really changes how I view the figures' poses and expressions. Curator: Exactly. By critically engaging with Gill's personal context and the history of representing the “harem,” we can start to unpack the complex layers of power, sexuality, and representation embedded within this image.