Woman and Little Girl of Constantine with a Gazelle 1849

Théodore Chassériau painted *Woman and Little Girl of Constantine with a Gazelle* in 1849 using oil on canvas. Chassériau was a French Romantic painter known for his Orientalist works inspired by his travels to Algeria. This painting depicts two Algerian women from Constantine, a city in northeastern Algeria. The figures are dressed in traditional clothing and jewelry. The gazelle could symbolize grace and beauty. The depiction of women in North Africa reflects the growing French colonial presence in the region during the 19th century and also a fascination in French culture with the "Orient." As an art historian, I must ask: what was Chassériau's relationship with the women he portrayed? To what extent did he accurately represent Algerian culture? Such questions can be answered by looking at travel literature, colonial archives, and studies of Orientalism. This artwork gives us an insight into the complex relationship between France and its colonies, and the ways in which art can both reflect and shape our understanding of different cultures.