The Battle of Tetouan (detail) 1862

"The Battle of Tetouan, detail" was painted by the Catalan artist, Mariano Fortuny, though he died before finishing it. Fortuny’s painting brings us to the Hispano-Moroccan War of 1859-60, a conflict driven by Spain’s imperial ambitions in North Africa. But rather than a straightforward glorification of Spanish military prowess, Fortuny’s depiction is more complex. Commissioned to commemorate the Spanish victory, this detail pulses with a chaotic energy. Look closely, and you'll see the diverse faces of conflict – Spanish and Moroccan soldiers locked in combat. The painting hints at a tension between romanticism and realism. The artist captures the exoticism of battle, yet it also hints at the brutal realities of war. The incomplete nature of the work further complicates its message. Fortuny’s death left the painting unresolved, mirroring the ongoing tensions and struggles for power and identity that continue to shape the region. What does it mean to leave a painting of a war unfinished?