Artwork
An Arab Family in the Desert
An Arab Family in the Desert is a photography by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1847 by the photographer known as 564_person, this image titled An Arab Family in the Desert is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work presents two figures positioned side by side within a dimly lit space, their silhouettes sharply defined against a largely obscured background.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a man and a woman, each dressed in traditional‑looking garments; the man wears a long robe, head covering and holds a curved sword, while the woman is clothed in a sheer, flowing veil and holds a small object. Though titled as an Arab family, the attire and pose evoke a broader, perhaps romanticized, vision of travelers in an arid landscape.
Technique & Style
The photograph employs a strong chiaroscuro effect, with bright illumination on the figures contrasting against deep shadows that swallow the surrounding environment. This use of light emphasizes the textures of the clothing and the contours of the bodies, creating a dramatic visual focus that isolates the subjects from any discernible setting.
History & Provenance
The image entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings after its acquisition, though specific details of its transfer are not recorded in the available data. As an 1847 work, it belongs to the early period of photographic production, reflecting contemporary interests in documenting distant peoples and cultures for European audiences.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
