Gate of Shehal, Morocco 1880

Edwin Lord Weeks painted "Gate of Shehal, Morocco" using oil on canvas. Weeks was what we call an Orientalist painter, traveling to North Africa and the Middle East to document his experiences for Western audiences. Here, the artist captures the scene with remarkable attention to the material qualities of the architecture. The thick walls appear as if built up slowly, stone upon stone, bearing the weight of history, and baked by the sun. The textures are rough and uneven, reflecting the labor-intensive process involved in constructing and maintaining the structure over time. The artist's brushwork mimics the very processes of construction and decay, with layers of paint applied to evoke the depth and richness of the ancient site. We can also consider the social context of this work. Weeks’ painting romanticized the East for the consumption of Westerners, feeding into a narrative of cultural difference. But there is no denying his skill in representing the scene, not least the way that he captured the gate's materiality. By focusing on materials, making, and context, we can deepen our appreciation of Weeks' painting.