Market on the Nile 1893

Joseph Farquharson likely made this painting, Market on the Nile, with oil on canvas. The work is a flurry of small brushstrokes that together convey a bustling market scene by the river. It is mostly composed of earthly pigments, which mirror the color and tone of its subject. Notice the textures Farquharson creates, layering paint to form the rough coats of camels and clothing of people seated on the ground. This artist was known for his landscape paintings, which romanticized rural life and often featured animals. This is a departure from that. The painting depicts a place of labor and exchange, where many people come together to engage in commerce. Farquharson has made the decision to focus on that instead of the surrounding landscape, highlighting the collective work that makes a market possible. Paying close attention to the materials, methods, and context of making can give us insight into the social and cultural significance of a work of art like this.