Allegories of Africa and America 1760 - 1816

Claude Louis Desrais made this pen and brown ink drawing, titled *Allegories of Africa and America*, in France in the late 18th century. It presents a fascinating glimpse into the European worldview of the time, and the way in which the enlightenment gaze was turned to far-flung lands. The image employs a common visual code of the era: the allegorical representation of continents as human figures, attended by animals associated with those regions. Note how the image juxtaposes the figures of Africa and America. A figure representing America, perhaps a native American, is seen with an alligator; the figure of Africa is seen with a lion. These details reflect the contemporary European understanding of these distant lands and their resources. To fully appreciate such an image, we delve into the visual culture of 18th-century France, consulting sources like travel narratives and encyclopedias. This helps reveal the complex social and intellectual currents that shaped both the production and reception of such allegorical works. The history of art is always contingent on the culture in which it was produced.