AlgerianDream.com - From the Sahara to the Mediterranean

Renoir in Algeria
December 2006
by: A.Mekarnia

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) was a French impressionist painter mostly known for his pleasant themes of children, flowers, and above all women. Less known are his portrayals of Algeria. Renoir attempted to portray the orient in a more subjective way and captured the opulent lives of the European colonists living there at the time.

Renoir began working at the age of 13 in Paris, decorating factory made porcelain. In 1862 he joined M.C. Gleyres studio where he formed friendships with Monet, Sisley, and Bazille. A wide range of painters influenced much of Renoir's early work including Delacroix, Ingres, and Manet.

In the 1870s Renoir began to earn a living painting portraits and he developed the ability to paint vibrant, shimmering color, and flickering light in outdoor scenes. Between 1881 and 1882 he traveled to Algeria and Italy before returning to Paris where he was established by a successful exhibition in 1883.

To see more of Renoir's work featuring Algerian themes, visit our photo gallery.

The Art of Hosting in Algeria
October 2006
by: A.Mekarnia

When I receive guests I usually offer something to drink like water, soda, juice, coffee, or tea. That's about it. If it was a more planned visit then maybe a dinner would follow soon after.

In Algeria it's a bit different. When I saw my mother in law dive into the kitchen to prepare for guests I all I could do is look on in fascination. She pulled out an arrangment of sweets and placed them in ornamental dishes. Okay, I thought, she will put these out on the table and then offer them something to drink. I mean-that's what I would do, right? But she didn't stop there. Out came a large silver tray and tall colorful drinking glasses soon followed by a silver napkin holder already full of neatly folded napkins which had been carefully arranged. Then she pulled out a large beautiful silver thermos into which she poured fresh coffee, and then another into which went the hot milk.

Let me pause for a moment. I still have to take it all in. I've never used a serving tray in my life. The only time I have ever seen one in use was in those old classic movies where the women dressed up even while they were at home. And if I ever used a napkin holder it was simply to shove the napkins in for easy access, not folded, but as is, large white squares slumping over the napkin holder and nearly falling off. In addition to that I never assumed what everyone would choose to drink, so I never made coffee in advance much less heat up the milk for the coffee.

To add to the whole thing the sweets weren't just cookies or brownies. They were themselves culinary pieces of art that required intensive labour. Most of them were made with almonds, some sprinkled with jasmine water or soaked in honey. All of them delicious.

When the guests arrived they were seated in. . .

From the Sahara to the Mediterranean

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