Lodewijk IX de Heilige komt aan land in Afrika 1810 - 1899

Jacques Alphonse Testard created this print, titled "Lodewijk IX de Heilige komt aan land in Afrika," depicting Louis IX, a 13th-century French king, arriving in Africa. As we look at this piece, consider the historical context of 19th-century France, marked by colonial expansion and the romanticization of historical figures. Testard's depiction reflects the period's orientalist views, framing Africa as an exotic, uncivilized land awaiting European influence. The image portrays Louis IX as a noble, almost divine figure, leading his men ashore. Yet, this representation is laden with the complexities of power, religion, and race. How does Testard's portrayal reinforce a narrative of European superiority? What untold stories lie beneath this depiction of a holy king's arrival on African soil? This print invites us to reflect on the legacies of colonialism and its impact on cultural identity.