Artillery Barracks, Tophana 1838

John Frederick Lewis sketched ‘Artillery Barracks, Tophana’ during a period when British artists turned to the ‘Orient’ as a source of fascination. Lewis’s work participates in the visual construction of the ‘Orient’ as a site of mystery. In this context, the male gaze of the artist intersects with the power dynamics of colonialism. Lewis creates an image which invites the viewer to experience a world that is both exotic and timeless. Consider the lack of industrial modernity in the work; instead we see traditional boats and architectural features, reinforcing a sense of cultural otherness. The sketch invites us to reflect on the role of art in shaping perceptions and perpetuating stereotypes. Lewis's artistic choices and his position as a Western artist contribute to a complex interplay of cultural representation. It’s a picture which offers a window into both the allure and the problematic nature of Orientalism.