Colours of Humanity: Artistic representations of the "Other"
Raymond Marshall
Published September 2023
Tools for this Unit:
Course Content: Pieces of art to be examined and discussed through the unit.
Amerigo Vespucci Awakens the New world2
Artist: Straet, Jan van der, 1523-1605
This print is from 1580, and depicts an allegorical depiction of how many Europeans viewed colonial
efforts.
Questions one can ask based on this print: What are some contrasts between Vespucci and the
“Spirit of America”? Are there Native Americans in this piece? How are they
portrayed? How about the American land in general?
The Indian Princess3
Artist Unknown
From a girls’ school in Boston, the large central figure is identified as Native American due to
her feathered headdress. Further, this seems to be another example of an Indian woman representing the
concept of “America.” So this, then, is something that a girl of the students’ own age
might have created based on their own understanding and knowledge of Native Americans. What seems
accurate, and what isn’t? What similarities and differences do you see between this and
Amerigo awakens the New World, in terms of the depiction of “America?”
Captain Cold, or Ut-ha-wah (Onondaga, ca. 1770–1845)4
Artist: William John Wilgus (American, 1819–1853)
Subject is a chief of the Six Nations, or Iroquois, Confederacy who fought with the United States
against the British in the War of 1812.
A piece for later in the discussion, to aid in discussing the assimilation of colonized people into the
colonial empire, in both positive and negative ways. What does his expression indicate? Is this piece of
art taking the subject seriously, or is it portraying him still as “other”?
A Dance in Jamaica5
Emeric Essex Vidal, 1791–1861
This picture is of African women in the colony of Jamaica dancing. In the background are a platoon of
British soldiers in classic “Redcoat” outfits. While the date is unknown, the artist was a
naval officer in the British Navy stationed in the West Indies before the abolition of slavery in the
empire in 1833. The presence of the army in the background, as well as the identity of the artist, both
suggest the power structures in place to keep the population of enslaved peoples under control and
prevent further uprisings like what had happened in Haiti only a few decades before. What can you
tell about the womens’ social status? What do their movements indicate?
Koo, Koo, or Actor Boy6
Belisario, Isaac Mendes, 1795-1849
Drawing of one of the performers in the Jamaican Junkanoo shortly after the abolition of slavery through
the British Empire. His costume incorporates various pieces of African imagery into this New World
celebration. This particular Junkanoo was significant because it was expected by some to be the final
one, as it was supposed that the newly freed men and women would no longer celebrate what had, before,
been a holiday for enslaved people. The festival, however, is still celebrated into the present
day. Of particular note, the white face mask is very similar to the ones worn by many West African
cultures in their funeral and memorial rites, symbolizing the dead. What kind of tone does this costume
represent? The people behind the performer?
Haida people Argilite figure of a Russian Sea Captain7
Creator Unknown
The Haida are a Pacific tribe of Native Americans who live in what is now British Columbia, Canada.
Their craftsmen would carve these figures out of Argilite in order to sell them to traders and travelers
from across the Pacific who came to trade fish and crafted goods with the tribe.8 This
particular figure is unusual in that the hands are out, rather than in the pockets of its coat, and that
it appears to be grasping a ship’s railing as well. How does the expression of this figure strike
you? Does this seem, to you, to be a complementary depiction of its subject?
Cigar Store White Man9
George Blake
Carved by a master of Native American craftsmanship, known for creation of bows, dugout canoes, and
other objects using traditional techniques, this sculpture is a humorous yet powerful reversal of the
Cigar Store Indian.10 The Cigar Store Indian was a familiar presence in tobacco stores as
early as the 1600’s, and served both as a reminder of the American origins of the tobacco plant as
well as a convenient place to strike matches for customers. Does Blake’s mockery of the Cigar
store White Man embody the stereotypical “white man” in the same way as the cigar store
Indian did the Indian? How or why not?11
Jaw-Bone, or House John Canoe12
Belisario, Isaac Mendes, 1795-1849
From the same provenance as Koo Koo above, this piece is another example of the formerly enslaved
Jamaicans celebration of Junkanoo, this time deliberately imitating a British citizen. The plantation
house, worn as a hat, combines with the red coat, famous symbol of the British military, as well as the
striped pants of the British Navy, to represent many of the most powerful symbols of the British empire.
Do you think that the creator of this piece intends it to honor or to mock the British?
Hear Me Now Exhibition, Metropolitan Museum of Art13
Various
This exhibition is full of vases, jars, and other ceramic art, all manufactured in the American South
before the abolition of slavery. Many feature bizarre and even alarming faces, the exact meaning of
which remain mysterious. It must, however, be remembered that the creators of these vessels were African
Americans surrounded by white faces who, in most cases, considered themselves better than black
Americans. Who do you think is shown in these vessels? Why do they look the way that they
do?
Yoruba carving of Queen Victoria14
Creator Unknown
Probably carved in the late 1800’s, this statue recognizably depicts the Queen of the British
Empire, Queen Victoria, in a style highly emblematic of the Yoruba people. The protruding eyes, enlarged
head, and prominent bosom are all characteristic of Yoruba sculptures, but they are here turned to
perhaps one of the greatest human symbols of Empire in all of European history. The enlarged head, in
particular, was a great sign of respect, as the Yoruba recognized it as the most important part of the
body. Do you think that Queen Victoria, had she ever seen this piece, would have appreciated
it? How does it differ from her official British representations?15
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