Study of turbaned figures (probably study for "the Jewish Bride") 1879

Alfred Dehodencq made this pencil study of turbaned figures, possibly for his painting "The Jewish Bride", sometime in the mid-19th century. Dehodencq was a French Orientalist painter, and this drawing offers a glimpse into the 19th-century European fascination with the "exotic" cultures of North Africa and the Middle East. This interest was fueled by French colonialism and the rise of ethnographic studies, and can be seen in the artist's attention to details such as the turbans worn by the figures. However, it is important to remember that this is a European interpretation of another culture. How accurate, how respectful, and how politically loaded is it? Dehodencq's painting reflected the social structures of his own time, showing both an interest in, and a power relation over, other cultures. To better understand Dehodencq's work, we can turn to the study of Orientalism and the history of French colonialism. By examining these resources, we can better understand the social and institutional contexts that shaped the production and reception of this image.