Gezicht op de kerk van Remedios c. 1848

This monochrome print by Frédéric Mialhe shows a view of the church of Remedios in Cuba. It serves as a window into the social hierarchy of the colonial Cuban landscape. Notice how Mialhe positions the church as a focal point, symbolically representing the influence of the Catholic Church in colonial society. In contrast, the indigenous populations and enslaved people, though present, are relegated to the margins, underscoring their limited social mobility and agency within the colonial power structure. How does the artist portray social interactions, and what does it say about the power dynamics at play during this era? The architecture and spatial organization reflect not just aesthetic choices but also the power dynamics of colonial Cuba. Mialhe's work invites us to consider the subtle yet pervasive ways in which art can both reflect and reinforce societal norms and power structures.