Karikatur af en sort afrikaner 1781 - 1791

Marie Jeanne Clemens made this caricature of a black African in Denmark, sometime before 1791. The work presents us with a stark reminder of Denmark's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and the social attitudes of the time. The caricature, with its exaggerated features, reflects the racist stereotypes prevalent in 18th-century European society. Denmark was one of the first European countries to abolish the slave trade in 1792, but this progressive step occurred in a society deeply entrenched in colonialism and its associated prejudices. Clemens was working at a time when art academies were becoming more established. How did these institutions shape the representation of people from different parts of the world? How did they reinforce or challenge existing social norms? By studying sources from the period, like travelogues, abolitionist pamphlets, and the records of trading companies, we can learn much more about this image, its purpose, and its cultural impact.