Gezicht op Oran, Algerije

Jules Gervais-Courtellemont made this print of Oran, Algeria, at an unknown date. It is now held in the Rijksmuseum. The print depicts a coastal city dominated by a steep cliff. Gervais-Courtellemont renders the image in shades of gray, highlighting the contrast between the rocky landscape and the city's architecture. Made during a time of French colonial expansion, the image presents Oran as an exotic locale, both picturesque and imposing. This imagery speaks to the complex relationship between Europe and North Africa, where the institutions of art, and the artists themselves, often served the political and economic aims of empire. Further study into French colonial history and the artist's biography would reveal even more about the social context of this print, emphasizing how art is inextricably linked to the power structures of its time.