Head of a Moor by Henri Regnault 1870

Henri Regnault painted this evocative Head of a Moor in France, sometime in the 1860s. It embodies a prevalent theme in 19th-century French art: the fascination with the exotic "Orient" and North Africa. France was expanding its colonial presence in North Africa, and this political context fueled interest in representing people from these regions in art. Here, Regnault uses loose brushwork and a vibrant color palette to capture the sitter's likeness. The term "Moor" was historically used to refer to Muslims from North Africa. Regnault’s choice of title is revealing. We might ask how colonial power structures shape representation, turning individuals into types. How do the politics of imagery work? Is this a respectful portrait of an individual or an appropriation of an identity? As art historians, we can research the artist's biography, colonial history, and the visual culture of 19th-century France to better understand the painting's historical context and meaning. Art is always contingent on social context.