Omnibus getrokken door kamelen en een officier en postbode Possibly 1844

This lithograph entitled 'Omnibus getrokken door kamelen en een officier en postbode' was made by Cham, the pseudonym for Amédée de Noé. Cham produced this piece during a period of French colonial expansion, specifically their presence in Algeria. Cham's cartoon provides a window into the French perception of Algerian culture during this time. By depicting an omnibus pulled by camels, he creates a humorous contrast between the modern, urban mode of transport and the exoticized setting of Algeria. This juxtaposition reveals a colonial gaze, one that seeks to assimilate and integrate the foreign landscape into a familiar framework. The caricatured figures of the Algerian people, rendered with exaggerated features, underscore the power dynamics at play. We might ask ourselves how Cham’s rendering exoticizes a culture different from his own, and whether the work reinforces or challenges prevailing stereotypes of the time. The humor underscores a cultural divide, inviting viewers to reflect on the complexities of cross-cultural encounters, and the lasting impact of colonial narratives on identity and representation.