Encampment of the Pilgrims at Jericho 

David Roberts, the Scottish painter, made this watercolor titled 'Encampment of the Pilgrims at Jericho.' Roberts, celebrated for his detailed architectural scenes and landscapes of Europe and the Middle East, produced this work amidst the surge of Orientalism in the 19th century. 'Encampment of the Pilgrims at Jericho' gives us insight into how Western artists depicted the East. Roberts wasn't merely painting a scene; he was constructing a narrative about a culture and people largely unfamiliar to his European audience. The composition evokes a sense of both wonder and perhaps a degree of exoticism. Look closely, what might seem like a neutral depiction carries the weight of colonial-era power dynamics. The scene presents an 'authentic' view of life in the East but, who decides what is authentic? The painting invites us to reflect on the complex exchange between the artist’s vision and the realities of the world he aimed to capture. It encourages us to consider how images shape our understanding of different cultures.