Half-naked man 

Mariano Fortuny Marsal created this sketch of a "Half-naked man" during the 19th century, a time when European art was deeply engaged with themes of orientalism. This piece, with its loose brushwork and intimate portrayal of a male figure, disrupts the traditional, often exoticized, depictions of North African men common in European art of the period. Instead, Fortuny offers a more vulnerable and immediate representation, seemingly stripping away layers of cultural and social distance. The man's posture and the stark setting evoke a sense of isolation, inviting us to consider the human experience beyond the surface. Fortuny himself had a close relationship with North Africa; he lived in Morocco, where he immersed himself in the local culture. He stated that “he was born to paint the light and colours of Arabia.” This context encourages us to reflect on the complexities of cultural exchange and representation, and the emotional dimensions of identity and place.