Uele, Jean-Pierre-Laurent. Ruins of Phoenician Temple in Casal Kachcha (3) Hermitage ~ part 12

The composition presents a landscape dominated by substantial stone ruins set within a cultivated field. A low wall, constructed from roughly hewn blocks, stretches across much of the middle ground, its weathered surface suggesting considerable age and exposure to the elements. The stones are rendered with varying degrees of detail, some appearing almost monolithic while others show individual cracks and textures.
To the left of the central ruin, a smaller grouping of standing stones echoes the form of the larger structure, creating a sense of repetition and perhaps hinting at a wider, now fragmented, architectural complex. A figure, presumably a farmer, is depicted guiding an ox-drawn plow across the field in the foreground. The man’s posture and attire suggest a working class identity, his presence grounding the scene within a contemporary context. Further into the distance, other figures are visible on the horizon, seemingly engaged in similar agricultural activities.
The sky occupies a significant portion of the canvas, filled with dramatic cloud formations rendered in muted greys and whites. The light is diffuse, casting soft shadows across the landscape and contributing to an overall atmosphere of melancholy or contemplation. The color palette is restrained, primarily consisting of earthy tones – browns, ochres, and greys – punctuated by the pale stone of the ruins and the darker hues of the figures’ clothing.
The juxtaposition of ancient ruins and contemporary agricultural labor introduces a subtle tension within the work. It implies a dialogue between past and present, civilization and nature, permanence and transience. The scale of the ruins relative to the human figures emphasizes their age and grandeur, while the ongoing cultivation of the land suggests a continuity of life despite the decay of the built environment. One might interpret this as an exploration of time’s passage and the cyclical nature of history – where what was once monumental can be reduced to fragments, yet life persists in its shadow. The placement of the figures within the landscape also subtly underscores humanitys relationship with both the natural world and the remnants of past cultures.