The holy tree of Metereah. 1846 - 1849

David Roberts created this watercolor titled "The holy tree of Metereah." Roberts was celebrated for his detailed, romanticized depictions of the Middle East and the artistic movement of Orientalism. In Roberts' time, there was a widespread fascination with the ‘Orient’ and a romanticized vision of it as exotic and mysterious. Works like this perpetuated an often skewed and stereotypical image. The holy tree itself symbolizes continuity and reverence, yet the people within the landscape are arranged to enhance the image's picturesque qualities, rather than to tell their stories. Looking at the image today, we might consider how these landscapes played a role in shaping Western perceptions of the Middle East. They reflect a time when cultural exchange was often intertwined with power dynamics, and where the identities of people were simplified into types to fit a Western narrative.