“Moonrise by Kasbah (Morocco),” crafted by Henry Ossawa Tanner in 1912, is a cityscape painting. The artwork captures a serene nighttime view of the Kasbah, articulated with skillful use of dark hues and moonlit highlights. The structure of the Kasbah dominates the composition, with its walls looming large in the foreground. The scene is enveloped in a calming, yet mysterious atmosphere, as the soft glow of the moonlight casts shadows, creating a tranquil yet enigmatic ambiance.
In this painting, Tanner employs a subdued color palette dominated by shades of blue and green, conveying the stillness and coolness of the night. The walls of the Kasbah stand in sharp contrast against the darker sky, while subtle details of the surrounding landscape hint at human presence, without detracting from the monumentality of the architecture. The viewer’s attention is drawn to the ethereal play of light and shadow, which imbues the artwork with a sense of timelessness and quiet reflection.