Man Leading a Donkey in Front of the Palais de Justice, Tangier (1912) by Henry Ossawa Tanner

Man Leading a Donkey in Front of the Palais de Justice, Tangier - Henry Ossawa Tanner - 1912

Artwork Information

TitleMan Leading a Donkey in Front of the Palais de Justice, Tangier
ArtistHenry Ossawa Tanner
Date1912
Art MovementImpressionism
Current LocationSmithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC, US

About Man Leading a Donkey in Front of the Palais de Justice, Tangier

“Man Leading a Donkey in Front of the Palais de Justice, Tangier,” created in 1912 by the distinguished artist Henry Ossawa Tanner, is an exemplary work of the Impressionist movement. As a genre painting that captures a slice of everyday life, this artwork holds a prominent place in the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC, United States.

The artwork depicts an urban scene in Tangier, focusing on a man leading a donkey in front of an imposing architectural structure—likely the Palais de Justice. The scene is rendered in the characteristic loose brushwork of Impressionism, emphasizing the play of light and shadow over precise detail. The color palette is subdued with earthy tones and gentle highlights, imparting a serene and contemplative mood. The buildings, painted in shades of white and gray, provide a stark yet soft backdrop, their architectural details blurred but discernible, suggesting the historical and cultural context of Tangier. The man’s figure and the donkey are central to the composition, guiding the viewer’s eye through the depicted pathway and into the depth of the scene.

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