Jeune homme arabe debout c. 1847 - 1848

Théodore Chassériau made this oil on canvas painting, titled "Jeune homme arabe debout," some time in the mid-19th century. It depicts a young Arab man standing, holding a flower, in what appears to be North Africa. This image engages with the fascination that French artists had with the "Orient" during the height of French colonialism. But how does it do so? The image emphasizes the perceived exoticism of the Arab world through clothing and setting. At the same time it suggests a kind of vulnerability in the figure's delicate features and presentation of the flower. Paintings like this were popular at the time, and they reflect a complex dynamic of admiration, appropriation, and power that characterized the relationship between Europe and the Arab world. As art historians, it is our task to interpret the visual codes within the painting and relate these to the wider social and institutional context. Researching the artist's biography, French colonial history, and the art market would offer invaluable context.