Kapitein Goodman 1893 - 1894

This colour print, titled 'Kapitein Goodman', was created by Imagerie d'Épinal - Pellerin, a French printmaking company known for its popular imagery. This artwork, made for the Humoristic Publishing Company of Kansas City, employs a comic strip format to tell a story. The image depicts a series of scenes in which Captain Goodman encounters and exploits indigenous populations, underscoring the colonial dynamics of the time. The visual codes, such as the portrayal of non-Europeans as 'exotic' or 'primitive', reflect and reinforce prevailing colonial attitudes. By commissioning this piece, the Humoristic Publishing Company of Kansas City was likely pandering to a readership that was supportive of colonial exploits. Historians can use documents such as colonial records, missionary accounts, and anthropological studies to gain a fuller understanding of the historical context in which artworks like 'Kapitein Goodman' were created and consumed.