Allegories of Africa and America 1760 - 1816

"Allegories of Africa and America" is a pen and ink drawing by Claude Louis Desrais that depicts two allegorical figures. The figure on the left, representing America, is a winged putto holding a spear and standing over a vanquished crocodile. The figure on the right, representing Africa, is a woman riding a lion while holding an umbrella and a tambourine. The drawing was likely created as part of a larger series of allegorical works. It reflects contemporary European fascination with the "New World" and "Old World" continents, and the artist's use of classical imagery suggests his understanding of these continents as new and exotic.