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Artist or Maker: LUDWIG DEUTSCH 1855-1935
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Dimensions: 41 by 32.3cm., 16¼ by 12¾in.
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Provenance: Acquired by the present owner circa 1950
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Notes:
One of the most revered Orientalists of the late nineteenth century, Ludwig Deutsch devoted himself almost exclusively to Cairene subjects from the early 1880s and onwards. Deutsch masterfully captured everyday life on the streets of Cairo, favouring subjects from cafés, markets and mosques. An interest in Cairene architecture, religious ceremonies, Oriental furniture and local dress characterises the artist's oeuvre. Always described with breath-taking virtuosity, these elements form exquisitely detailed backdrops for the figures depicted.
To ensure ethnographic exactitude, Deutsch and many of his fellow Orientalist artists used Islamic tiles, textiles and metalwork as studio props. In the present work, the intricate design of the rug, time-worn wooden cabinet and tiles, delicate and complex fretwork of the marquetry mahmal (book stand) and mashrabiyya screen are described in minute detail. Painted in Deutsch's Parisian studio upon returning from his second trip to Egypt in 1890, it is likely that the artist relied on photographs as well as props in the execution of the present work. Deutsch's keen eye for small gestures and individual expressions adds a sense of intimacy to this quiet, contemplative scene.
