Karikatuur van twee Chinezen met bochels 1833

Paul Gavarni made this lithograph of two Chinese figures, sometime in the mid-19th century. It reflects France's growing fascination with, and often distorted understanding of, other cultures. The image employs visual codes common in European depictions of Asian people at the time, exaggerating and deforming the figures. The title itself, "Caricature of two Chinese with Hunchbacks", reveals a prejudiced perspective, reducing individuals to stereotypes. During this period, France, like many European nations, was expanding its colonial influence. Images like these played a role in shaping public opinion, reinforcing a sense of European superiority. To truly understand this artwork, we need to delve into historical archives, examining travelogues, political cartoons, and ethnographic studies from that period. These sources can reveal the complex interplay of power, knowledge, and representation that shaped European perceptions of the non-Western world. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional context.