Allegory of Africa c. 1863 - 1865

Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, best known for the Statue of Liberty, made this bronze sculpture called Allegory of Africa, and the date is unknown. The reclining figure embodies European ideas about the African continent. It's important to look closely at the image and consider the time in which it was made. Notice how the figure is rendered in classical style. What does it mean to represent a continent as a single male figure? Is the lion’s head an attribute of power or something else? This was the age of high imperialism, when European nations colonized Africa. So what is the relationship between art and power? To answer those questions, we must consult a wide range of sources: historical documents, cultural studies, and postcolonial theory. Only then can we begin to understand the complex meanings embedded in this work of art.