The National Portrait Gallery has placed trigger warnings on historical portraits of the legendary British officer T.E. Lawrence, famously known as Lawrence of Arabia, over concerns of cultural appropriation. The warnings apply to images depicting Lawrence wearing traditional Arab attire, which he was gifted during the First World War.
Historical Context Meets Modern Sensibilities
The gallery has flagged several online images, including a 1917 photograph and a 1918 sketch by the renowned artist Augustus John, which show Lawrence in Arab clothing. Accompanying notes state that the works 'reflect the attitudes and viewpoints of the time in which they were made' and that these may differ from contemporary perspectives. Portraits of Lawrence without the Arab outfit do not carry the advisory.
Thomas Edward Lawrence, born in Wales, fought alongside Arab forces against the Ottoman Empire. He was encouraged by Emir Faisal, the future King of Iraq, to adopt the garments of an Arab 'sherif' (royalty) to better integrate with local tribes. Lawrence himself wrote in his 1926 work, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, that wearing the clothes was more comfortable for desert life and helped the tribesmen accept him as a leader.
A Wider Trend in Cultural Reassessment
This is not an isolated case at the National Portrait Gallery. Similar trigger warnings have been applied to other historical figures depicted in attire from cultures not their own. These include:
- Lord Byron, shown in 1813 wearing Albanian folk dress.
- Italian explorer Giovanni Belzoni, depicted in an 1820 portrait wearing an Egyptian turban.
- Arabic translator Edward Lane in an 1828 sculpture wearing traditional Arab clothing.
- British officer Sir Herbert Benjamin Edwardes in an 1850 portrait dressed as an Indian nobleman.
The gallery maintains that while the attitudes reflected may clash with 'today's attitudes', each image remains an important historical document.
The Ongoing Debate Over Cultural Heritage
The move by the National Portrait Gallery taps into a broader, often contentious, national conversation about cultural appropriation and how history is presented. Recent years have seen similar rows, such as Dulwich Prep School in south London dropping house names based on Native American tribes.
Everyday controversies have also emerged, including disputes over a Middle Eastern cookbook and criticism of Channel 4's knitting show Game of Wool: Britain’s Best Knitter, hosted by Olympian Tom Daley. The Shetland’s Organisation of Knitters expressed dismay over the misrepresentation of traditional crafts, highlighting sensitivities around terminology and heritage.
This decision regarding Lawrence of Arabia's portraits underscores the continuing challenge institutions face in balancing historical accuracy with evolving modern values and the respectful treatment of cultural symbols.
