Close to my home, there is super gallery called Nota Bene with a lot of art from the 19th century. Recently, I noticed this stunning bust in the window and did not resist photographing it! It was made by French sculptor Auguste Henri Carli and is called Buste de jeune Nègre (nègre has now become very derogatory, but was not when this bust was made). FYI in France, slavery was abolished in 1791/92 then reinstated by Napoleon in 1802 and abolished again in 1848!
The bust is superb, as is the gallery, as is your photograph.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful piece! I love his work!
ReplyDeleteVery few comments today. It shows how 'sensitive' this topic can be, especially for North Americans...
ReplyDeleteThe photo is very good though. I love how the bust sticks out from the background.
I agree Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteI thought it may also be a sensitive subject because of the current context of the Presidential elections in the US. I mean Michelle Obama is directly, deeply concerned by this topic. How brave she is ... regarding this sensitive context. But I don't mean to speak politics here.
This is a sensitive subject for me too (especially since I visited the plantation house where some of my Virginia ancestors lived before and after the Civil War). Curiously, I think the young man depicted here looks a lot like LeVar Burton in the role of Kunta Kinte in Roots.
ReplyDeleteRelax and enjoy the art, people. I saw a beautiful work! I'm BLACK.
ReplyDeleteLOL Ujima! You're so right.
ReplyDelete