De gedwongen zeereis 1876 - 1890

Paul Léonnec produced this image titled 'The Forced Sea Voyage' as a print. It's full of ideas that connect to its wider social and cultural context. The image creates meaning through its depiction of colonial structures, cultural references, and historical associations. Léonnec likely made this in France at a time when colonialism was at its height. The print depicts colonial power dynamics through a series of vignettes showing the forced transportation of people, possibly convicts or laborers, to various colonial outposts. We see people of color being policed. The image likely comments on the social structures of its time, perhaps critiquing the exploitative nature of colonialism. To understand this image better, we might research the history of French colonialism and the specific penal colonies it established. By examining these sources, we can understand the social and institutional contexts in which the art was made.