Tangiers

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

**Tangiers** *Arnold William Brunner (American, 18571925), 1891* Landscape | Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Arnold. Brunner Arnold William Brunner, a prominent American architect and artist active in the late 19 and early 20th, captured the exotic allure of Tangiers in this 1891 landscape. Created during a period when American artists increasingly ventured abroad for inspiration, the work reflects the era's fascination with North African locales amid the waning Ottoman influence and rising European colonial interests. Tangiers, a bustling port city at the Strait of Gibraltar, symbolized adventure and cultural fusion for Western travelers, evoking the Orientalist trends popular among artists like those in the Etching Revival movement. Though the medium remains under study—part of ongoing research at the Smithsonian American Art Museum—this piece highlights Brunner's skill in rendering atmospheric vistas, likely drawing from his architectural eye for form and space. His landscapes often blended precise observation with evocative mood, bridging fine art and design in Gilded Age America. A cherished gift from Mrs. Arnold W. Brunner, *Tangiers* enriches the Smithsonian's collection, offering visitors a window into late Victorian wanderlust and an American artist's global gaze. As research progresses, it promises deeper insights into Brunner's multifaceted career.