Portret van Guillaume-Thomas François Raynal 1756 - 1819

This is Gottlob August Liebe’s rendering of Guillaume-Thomas François Raynal, made with etching. Raynal was a French abbot and writer, whose texts often criticized colonialism. Consider the complex position Raynal occupied. As an abbot, he was part of the system, yet his writings dared to critique the established order. His most famous work, "Histoire philosophique et politique des établissements et du commerce des Européens dans les deux Indes," condemned the exploitation and violence inherent in European colonization. It was a sentiment that resonated with many, yet also sparked considerable controversy. How do we reconcile the fact that Raynal himself was a beneficiary of the very system he criticized? Perhaps it speaks to the multifaceted nature of historical progress, where change often comes from within. Liebe's portrait immortalizes Raynal, but also invites us to reflect on the complexities of history, and the uncomfortable truths about power, privilege, and resistance.