North African man in travelling costume
1905
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1905
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
North African man in travelling costume is a 1905 watercolor by William Wiehe Collins, a Orientalism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This watercolour shows a North African man in travel clothes. The artist painted it around 1900-1910 using a tricky “wet” style where paint stays fluid until it dries. That method hides small mistakes behind bold, flowing shapes. Collins was famous in London for costume pictures and travel books. He even wrote guides to cathedrals in Spain and Italy. Check out more by Collins, William Wiehe (RI).
The painting depicts a North African man dressed in traditional travelling attire, executed in a precise wet watercolour technique that conveys both spontaneity and meticulous control. This challenging method, popular in Britain since the 18th century, saw its peak demand during the Victorian era before declining with the advent of photography and mechanical reproductions. William Wiehe Collins, known for his landscapes, costume studies, and architectural subjects, exhibited widely in London and also contributed illustrations to books on European cathedrals. The work was purchased by Bonhams…
Read the full account in the museum source.
William Wiehe Collins never left England, yet he spent years painting North Africa from memory after one short trip.
See the richer artist page
