Zahara 

Anthony Devis made this watercolor and graphite drawing titled ‘Zahara’. It depicts a Spanish landscape dominated by the hilltop fortress, and populated by local figures, complete with pack animals. In the 1700s, images like this played a crucial role in shaping European perceptions of foreign lands. Artists like Devis often catered to a growing interest in travel and exploration, fueled by colonial expansion and the desire for knowledge about different cultures. Notice how the scene is carefully composed to emphasize the picturesque qualities of the landscape and the people. The architecture is rendered in great detail, while the figures are positioned to convey a sense of exoticism. Works like this were typically consumed by wealthy Europeans, reinforcing existing power dynamics and notions of cultural superiority. By studying travel accounts, maps, and other visual representations, we can gain a deeper insight into how art contributed to the construction of cultural identities. The meaning of art is always contingent on the social and institutional context in which it is made and consumed.