An Arab Courtyard 

"An Arab Courtyard" was painted by Haddon Hubbard Sundblom, though the exact date of its making remains unknown. Rendered in watercolor, it delicately captures a scene of daily life. Sundblom's choice of watercolor lends itself to a soft, diffused light, ideal for depicting the Middle Eastern atmosphere he evokes. Watercolor demands a deft hand, with each layer influencing the final image. This is no mechanized process; instead, Sundblom engages in a patient build-up, mirroring the slow accretion of cultural tradition within the courtyard itself. While Sundblom clearly admires the scene, it's important to consider the painting's context. As an American artist, he inevitably views this "Arab Courtyard" through a Western lens. This work reflects the history of Orientalism, which often exoticized and romanticized the East for Western consumption. It reminds us that artistic depictions, regardless of their beauty, are always intertwined with social and political perspectives.