White Marble Tomb at Suittitor, Skiri 1883

Edwin Lord Weeks painted "White Marble Tomb at Suittitor, Skiri," capturing a scene during his travels in India. As a Western artist in the late 19th century, Weeks was part of a broader Orientalist movement, where European and American artists depicted what they imagined as exotic Eastern cultures. Here, the architecture is rendered in exquisite detail, highlighting the artist's fascination with the tomb's design. What might go unnoticed, though, is how the local people are presented. They are figures within a landscape, carefully placed to enhance the scene. Weeks does not engage with their personal stories but rather uses them to add authenticity to his vision of the East. The emotional impact of this piece lies in its romanticized view, one that both celebrates and simplifies a complex cultural reality. This painting then becomes a reflection of the West's engagement with the East, filtered through the artist's perspective.