A North African Courtyard 1879

Frederick Arthur Bridgman made this painting of a North African Courtyard using oil on canvas. The late 19th century was a time when European and American artists turned to the Middle East and North Africa for inspiration, drawn by what they considered exotic cultures. Here, the courtyard is not simply a backdrop, it speaks of colonial power dynamics: North Africa was under French colonial rule, and artists like Bridgman portrayed it as a land of leisure and beauty, implicitly justifying European domination. The architecture, the clothing of the figures, and the presence of horses all contribute to a sense of orientalist fantasy. Bridgman was a student of the French Academic painter Jean-Léon Gérôme, who was known for his orientalist works. To understand Bridgman's choices, we might look at travel accounts, photographs, and other images from the period. This artwork is a reminder that what we see in art is always shaped by the social and political context in which it was made.