The Saddle Bazaar, Cairo 1883

Jean-Léon Gérôme created this tableau of "The Saddle Bazaar, Cairo" using oil on canvas, a traditional medium that belies its subject. Consider the intricate saddles and textiles depicted. These aren't just props; they represent skilled labor, traditions of weaving, leatherwork, and metalworking that are largely absent from the painting process itself. Gérôme, with his brush, mediates these other forms of making, rendering them picturesque and consumable for a Western audience. The painting’s smooth surface and meticulous detail conceal the labor involved. The saddle is ornate, suggesting hours of skilled craftsmanship. We see saddles, metal adornments, and elaborately woven textiles, items that speak to trade networks and craft traditions—all framed within a scene ready-made for Orientalist consumption. By focusing on the depiction rather than the act of production, Gérôme perpetuates a colonial gaze. So, while we appreciate the artist's technical skill, let’s also reflect on what isn’t shown: the hands that made these goods, the social context of their creation, and the economic forces at play in their exchange.