The Perfume Maker 

Rudolf Ernst, an Austrian Orientalist painter, created "The Perfume Maker." Orientalism provided a lens through which European artists depicted the "Orient," often reinforcing stereotypes and power dynamics. Here, we see an exoticized depiction of labor within a harem-like setting, where the identities of the individuals are simplified to types. The image suggests an established hierarchy: a young boy works on the floor with what looks like cast off flowers, while a veiled woman delicately places blossoms into a large vase. An older woman brings in more raw materials, watched over by an older man at the edge of the frame. Ernst's focus isn’t on individuality but on creating an image of an imagined East. This artistic choice raises critical questions about cultural appropriation, the gaze, and the representation of marginalized communities. It invites us to consider the power dynamics embedded in the act of looking and depicting cultures that are not one's own.