The Fisherman and the Afrite (or Genie) 1868

John La Farge made this print, “The Fisherman and the Afrite,” using wood engraving, probably sometime in the 1880s. It illustrates a tale from “The Arabian Nights,” a collection of Middle Eastern and South Asian stories that had become extremely popular in the West. La Farge was an American artist with a distinct interest in non-Western cultures. Here, the fisherman kneels, begging for mercy as he releases a powerful genie from its jar. This image plays on Western fantasies of the “exotic” East, but it also speaks to the era’s social anxieties. In the late 19th century, the rise of industrial capitalism seemed to unleash new, uncontrollable forces. Like the fisherman, people wondered if they could control the changes they had set in motion. Historical context is key to understanding this artwork. To research it further, you might explore popular literature of the time, as well as histories of economic expansion and social reform.