Sardanapale, from "Le Monde Illustré" 1874

Emile Thomas created this print, *Sardanapale, from "Le Monde Illustré,"* which now resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This piece illustrates a scene of destruction and violence, reflecting the tumultuous political climate of 19th-century France, a period marked by revolution, empire, and restoration. The print depicts a dramatic scene inspired by Lord Byron's poem about the Assyrian king Sardanapalus, who chooses to destroy his palace and possessions, including his concubines and slaves, rather than surrender to his enemies. Through the lens of Orientalism, the print exoticizes and eroticizes the East, reinforcing Western fantasies and power dynamics. The bodies of the women are displayed as spoils of war. The image is charged with an energy that speaks to the fear of the 'other,' a fear often projected onto marginalized groups. The dramatic chaos pulls us into the emotional turmoil and excess of the scene, which reminds us of the ways in which power, desire, and destruction are intertwined.