Ruins, Palmyra 

Félix Ziem captured this oil on canvas painting, "Ruins, Palmyra." Ziem's orientalist depictions of Palmyra, now Syria, reflect a colonial gaze that romanticized the East, simplifying its diverse realities. The painting, however, captures the emotional weight of history and the universality of ruin. We see the remnants of a once-grand civilization reduced to fragments, highlighting the transient nature of power and the inevitable decay of human achievement. But what is left unsaid? The painting presents an image of tranquil decay, omitting the complexities of life for the inhabitants of Palmyra at the time. It reminds us to consider whose stories are missing and how orientalist art often fails to fully represent the lived experiences of the people and cultures they depict. While aesthetically beautiful, "Ruins, Palmyra," challenges us to confront the power dynamics inherent in its creation and the responsibility we have to seek out marginalized histories.