Vier mannen bereiden een boot voor om te gaan varen in de haven van Algiers, Algerije before 1893

Jules Gervais-Courtellemont created this print of four men preparing a boat in the port of Algiers, Algeria. The image is a window into a complex colonial history, reflecting the dynamics between France and Algeria during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Gervais-Courtellemont, as a French artist, was likely influenced by the Orientalist movement, which often exoticized and romanticized North Africa. The scene presents a narrative of labor and preparation, yet the identities and stories of these Algerian men remain somewhat obscured. This prompts us to consider questions of representation and agency. Do we see an honest depiction of daily life, or is this a constructed image filtered through a colonial lens? In viewing this work, consider the power dynamics at play and the emotional space between the representation and the lived experiences of the individuals depicted.