La Alhambra de Granada 

David Roberts made this lithograph of ‘La Alhambra de Granada’. In the 19th century, the European rediscovery of the Alhambra sparked a romantic fascination. Roberts, like many artists, found inspiration in its architecture. But this image isn't just a neutral depiction. It speaks to the complex politics of imagery and cultural ownership. Spain, with its rich Moorish history, became a site onto which European artists projected their fantasies of an exotic, yet familiar, past. Roberts’ lithograph reflects the orientalist trends of his time. It invites viewers to consume a romanticized version of Islamic Spain, simplifying a diverse cultural landscape. We, as art historians, must ask: what narratives are being reinforced and which are being erased? We can explore the political context through travelogues, historical records, and critical essays. This allows us to understand both the allure and the problematic legacy of such images.