The White Slave 1888

Jean Lecomte du Nouÿ painted "The White Slave" during the late 19th century, a period when European artists frequently exoticized non-Western cultures. Here, a red-haired, fair-skinned woman is depicted in what is implied to be a harem setting, surrounded by opulence and attended to by dark-skinned servants. This Orientalist fantasy is a reflection of colonial power dynamics. The woman’s nudity and the setting contribute to the painting’s erotic charge, feeding into a Western male gaze that exoticizes and objectifies women, particularly those from cultures deemed "other." The title itself is telling, highlighting race as a commodity within this imagined space. The artist invites viewers to contemplate themes of captivity, desire, and the power imbalances inherent in colonial encounters. We might reflect on how it perpetuates harmful stereotypes, and consider its implications for contemporary understandings of identity and representation.