Woestijnlandschap, vermoedelijk in het Midden-Oosten c. 1930 - 1940

This photograph of a desert landscape, presumably in the Middle East, was created by an anonymous artist. Given the lack of identifying information, this photograph speaks to the historical and cultural contexts of anonymity, and the West’s long tradition of exoticizing the ‘Orient’ and the people who inhabit those spaces. Consider how the desert, often depicted as empty or barren, neglects the histories and identities of the people who have called it home for centuries. In Western art, landscapes of the Middle East are often devoid of inhabitants, erasing the presence and agency of the people who live there. What does it mean to look at a desert landscape, without a name attached to its creation, and without any signs of human life? The photograph invites us to consider themes of identity, representation, and the power dynamics inherent in looking. It encourages us to think about the stories that go untold and the voices that remain unheard.