Jean-Leon Gerome’s The Almeh with Pipe Essay Example

marking the difference in her clothes’ texture and weight.

The Almeh is slightly off center, and is leaning more towards the right side of the portrait. The painting is greatly made even more dramatic by the setting, which boasts of almost Moorish architecture, the use of heavy stones and intricate windows woven out of rattan which allows a little sunlight to enter the dark setting.

The painting appears to be in dark alley, away from the bustle of city life. This makes it rather thought-evoking. Who is the Almeh, what is she doing in the dark alley, smoking a pipe, which at that time, was not freely extended to women. Was she just free-spirited and liberated?

Since the Almeh, the lone person in the painting, is off-center, one may think that the painting might be quite heavy towards the side where the subject is, however, the entire painting was well-though of and well-constructed.

One can see the great talent of Jean-Leon Gerome through his paintings. The textures, colors, and shading of all the elements in the painting are well-painted; the Almeh’s expression was well captured. In all, the painting evokes whimsy and mystery. It succeeds in putting together a rather dark theme and making it appear light and pleasing.

Jean Leon Gerome was greatly fascinated by Eastern culture. This influence was brought about by his travels and expeditions in Egypt, Turkey, and Greece. This probably explains why he has a number of paintings that clearly depicted Eastern people and culture. Born in France, Gerome grew up in a high-average income family, and excelled in academics before he decided to study

with Paul Delaroche.

His long hours of arduous study were devoted to painting and sculpture of the historical genre style. Aside from this, Gerome also took extra time perfecting his personal style. Gerome’s skill and talent combined with his diligence and hard work paid off as soon his works got featured in magazines, and was commissioned to do several paintings by noblemen, which continued well after his graduation from school.