Interieur van een weverij, mogelijk in Algerije c. 1887

Henri-Charles Guérard made this etching called ‘Interior of a Weaving Mill, Possibly in Algeria’ in the late nineteenth century. It captures a scene of daily life, but also raises questions about Orientalism and colonial power. The image shows women working at a loom in what is likely Algeria, then under French colonial rule. Guérard depicts what appears to be an intimate, ‘authentic’ view of Algerian life. But we must ask: from whose perspective? As a Frenchman, Guérard's gaze is inevitably shaped by the power dynamics of colonialism. The image risks exoticizing and romanticizing the lives of the Algerian people. How does the image reinforce or challenge stereotypes? To understand this work fully, research into the history of French colonialism in Algeria, as well as the artistic conventions of Orientalism, is essential. By exploring these contexts, we can better understand the complex social and political meanings embedded within this seemingly simple image.