China prentbriefkaart 'Mevrouw BESCHAVING tot haar slachtoffers' c. 1900 - 1918

"China prentbriefkaart 'Mevrouw BESCHAVING tot haar slachtoffers'" is a satirical postcard by Dutch artist Alfaro Reijding, created sometime between 1900 and 1918. It depicts a woman representing "Civilization" in a flowing gown, covering and seemingly crushing a multitude of figures below. The caption, written in Dutch, implies that the victims are unaware of the harm caused by civilization. This satirical commentary, typical of Reijding's work, criticizes the Western world's colonial ambitions and the resulting suffering inflicted on colonized peoples. The black and white drawing with yellow accents, typical of early 20th century printmaking, is a powerful visual statement on the perceived hypocrisy of Western imperialism.