Deckers, Émile

Deckers, Émile

DECKERS, Émile Oriental scene. 1929 Drawing, brown watercolour with red chalk over pencil, 27,5 x 20 cm, thick paper, signed and dated at lower right "Deckers E. 29". In a gilt frame, under passe-partout. The Belgian painter Émile Deckers (1885-1968) embraced Orientalism after his move to Algiers in 1921, making him one of the final exponents of this Western fascination for the exotic Orient. Contrary to many other Oriental painters of the 19th century, Deckers' representations of Algerian men and women aimed a high authenticity without the usual Romantic flair. The present drawing is a study for a larger project, possibly for an Algerian market.