The artwork, titled “Algiers,” was created by Henry Ossawa Tanner in 1912. It is a cityscape executed in the style of Impressionism.
The composition of the artwork captures the essence of an urban scene rendered with a palette dominated by deep blues and purples, playing with the contrast of light and shadow. The primary focus is a white building, bathed in a subdued radiance, which stands against a dark and textured landscape. The brushwork is typical of the Impressionist movement, characterized by loose, expressive strokes that imbue the work with a sense of immediacy and atmosphere. Foreground figures are less distinct, merged with the surrounding shadows, giving the structure an even more prominent and ethereal presence. This visual interplay creates an evocative mood, drawing the viewer into an introspective experience of the scene depicted.
