Slavery in European Paintings From 1250-1800 Essay

It was until the 17th century onwards that Europeans began to relate slavery to blackness; but, before this time slaves were mostly white. This means that slaves were not always black and blacks were not always slaves. Slavery was such an inspirational subject for many European artists who painted slavery images, depicting all forms of representations and emotions. European paintings depicted slavery between the periods 1250 to 1800 (Green 189-201).

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Slavery, without a doubt, was such an inspirational subject for many of the western artists. They represented this subject through paintings and images. Slave trade between Europe and Africa became heightened in the seventeenth century following Europe's defeat and colonization of North and South America as well as the Caribbean islands in the fifteenth century. Because they were considered fit enough to work in European's tropical climate, African slaves were in higher demand. Trade of African slaves was widespread in Europe, and this can be seen from the various paintings showing wealthy Europeans accompanied by blacks who were mostly children.

To begin with, slaves were depicted in European paintings to show the wealth and status of the Europeans who were mostly the owners of those slaves. Many European paintings depict wealthy Europeans attended by black slaves majorly children wearing silver collars. Silver slave collars worn by slaves which were usually put on together with expensive and lavish clothing was a show off for wealth. As seen in many contemporary paintings of the seventeenth and eighteenth century, many rich Europeans had their slaves put on silver collars along with their clothes as a form of fashion to show off their wealth ("Slave Portraiture In The Atlantic World Ed. By Agnes Lugo-Ortiz And Angela Rosenthal" 560-567).

Nicolas de Largillierre (French, 1656-1746). Portrait of a Woman, Possibly Madame Claude Lambert de Thorigny (Marie Marguerite Bontemps, 1668-1701), and an Enslaved Servant, 1696. Oil on canvas; 55 x 42 in. (139.7 x 106.7 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1903 (03.37.2)

The emergence of slavery changed the notion of wealth among the Europeans. Only those who owned slaves and land were promoted to the prestigious status of gentlemen. According to Richard S. Dunn, negro slaves were especially considered the main asset. Although slaves belonged to the lowest ranks as well as lacking many rights including the right to movement, they were vital markers of the European identity. White masters and black slaves had intimate relations in private; however, in public firm behavior and boundaries had to be upheld. Most of the European paintings only depict the public while hiding the private and domestic life in which slavery flourished. One of the works of Justus Engelhardt Kuhn, a painter from Germany painted a portrait of Henry Darnall III as a young boy. The painting depicts royalty and wealth due to the clothes and ornaments are worn by the boy. This painting shows a sense of color and fashion majorly related to European style. In the painting young Darnall's status is boosted by the beautiful lavish royal clothes along with a bird and a bow. He is also dressed in an embroidered coat, a scarf and jeweled shoes which all go well with his status of wealth. There is a sharper sense in the Darnall's painting, however, which is the figure of a black boy who is believed to be the first black to be depicted in European painting.

The black boy is used in this painting to raise young Darnall's rank. The use of the young black boy was to enhance wealth and prestige for the young Darnall. The black boy was used as just another portrait of ornamentation replacing either a dog or a parrot which were earlier used as important components of paintings. Also, the black boy was used to represent a transformation of the social imaginary. The black boy represented the value and impression of black marginalization because outside of the painting black slaves were viewed as dangerous and detestable. The presence of the black slave in the painting is used a social rank, a source of wealth and therefore a foundation of status as well as a character (Tobin 139-141).

Secondly, slaves appeared in European paintings because they were alluding to the Europeans for their exoticism. The exotic body seemed like it changed readily from being that which gives pleasure but to that that gives pain. The Europeans viewed slaves as subjects and objects used for production and sex. From European slave paintings, it can be noted that there were cruelty and abuse inflicted on naked slaves. They were also tortured. Slaves are depicted in paintings showing how Europeans depict Africans and blacks. One painting going by the title "Allegory of Africa" shows a strong woman riding on a huge crocodile. This shows Africa women to have strong character and fearlessness. This is the depiction of slaves as those with lesser roles like home servants to the wealthy Europeans. The use of slaves in European paintings was meant to elevate the social status of European masters or complement them. In other instances, slaves were studied as subjects in paintings just for their good. Such painters as Bosch and Rembrandt obviously found them captivating due to an unusual subject matter or due to exotic persons (Aravamudan 408-411).

Also, slaves appeared European paintings to show that slave's bodies were used as instruments of production especially in plantation slavery. During the sixteenth century, slaves worked on plantation farms to help in the production of cash crops which included coffee, tobacco, and sugarcane. Paintings of black slaves working in plantations depict the strength of the slaves as well as their main purpose which was that of working in the fields and farms of their masters to produce a crop. Slaves are often depicted in paintings with chains and kneeling before their masters pleading which shows that their humanity was not considered at all. They were considered as servants without rights just used for their bodies. Paintings are showing slaves in shackles, and handcuffs show how their humanity was not taken into consideration. According to studies, slave shackles were created during the fifteenth century which was used to chain slaves in their wrists, necks, and ankles (Aravamudan 408-411). The slaves were forcefully boarded into slave ships where they were packed in small spaces on top of each other and tied with shackles thus they were not able to breathe properly or even move. The shackles were used to ground slaves and also to punish slaves who were caught escaping. In short, slaves were treated no better than criminals. Paintings of masters brutally whipping slaves have also been seen. The whipping and beatings were usually administered as a form of punishment. The number of lashes depended on the seriousness of the crime. The paintings showing masters brutally administering such punishment to slaves depicted the brutality, inhumanity, dominance, and torture the slaves received. Slaves were always kept bend while working on the farms ("Review: Slavery And The Culture Of Taste Simon Gikandi, Slavery And The Culture Of Taste . Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2011 . Pp. Xx + 366 ." 397-401).

Thirdly, European slavery paintings depict attitudes and stereotypes related to color. Biases and misconceptions about black skin are shown in many of the paintings. In one painting, objects like a helmet visor used on the face of a Muslim man makes his face look even more fearsome when he is illustrated as a black man. Looking at the book by Andrea Alciati brings out Europeans misconceptions of black slaves when they are seen scratching the skin of a black man trying to make him white. This shows that Europeans were almost certain that God created Adam and Eve as white people and therefore anyone else who was not white was abnormal. Art created from black and brownstone was used to exploit the black material by depicting a black slave bathing while looking into a mirror with a striking posture of frustration and non-acceptance of herself (Aravamudan 408-411).

Fourthly, slaves appeared in European painting to depict rudeness, animosity, the sensuality of the slaves. Slaves were depicted as having the characteristics of being rude, defiant, and behaving like animals. As seen in most paintings the slaves were used for economic gain and sexual pleasure. This showed how the slaves were perceived by Europeans.

As African rulers forged relationships with the European traders, they needed to conquer their interiors and expand their territories. To achieve this, they needed the Europeans help which eventually led to an increased trade of the human cargo for the European weapons. The slave in the European paintings in the 1250-1800 era were the subjects of the art because their trade was highly valued as the Europeans needed their help while the Africans leaders needed to make a point and expand their kingdoms or chiefdoms. It was a mutual benefit trade that left many African communities living in tension and fear that violence might erupt. The chiefs and other rulers needed the wars and the raids to other communities or territories because the slaves were acquired through capturing and raiding. The slaves were important to the Europeans for their labor was cheap or almost free. Slavery was such an inspirational subject for many European artists who painted slavery images, depicting all forms of representations and emotions. European paintings depicted slavery between the periods 1250 to 1800.

The inclusion of the slaves in the European art depicts that the slaves were considered property and that they had to obey their master's every command. Some of the paintings depict the Europeans beating up the African slave men with lashes as they kneel down to them. This is an indication that the painters considered the Africans in one category as the cattle's that are treated in whatever the way the master desired. Beating the slaves with lashes, making them sleep like animals and providing them will less food, and medication was a way of showing the slave was under master's rule and must remain the same.

Slavery is represented in the paintings of a black person. In most of the cases they are depicted as a black figure, and in most cases, they are smiling with white teeth. The slaves were considered workers to the elite class of white people, and in most of the times, they are depicted performing chores next to their masters. Some of the paintings depict that the Africans slaves were goods for trade. Some of the European paintings in this era represent the journey of the European as they approached Africa and their way back to Europe after buying the slaves. During this time millions of slaves were traded by different groups and different interests.

From the paintings, it is not easy to determine if the status of the slave is free or not because in most cases they are presented near the elite class. It is worth noting that slave trade has made many Europeans wealthy members of the community and Christians were not to enslaved at all. Slavery was such an inspirational subject for many European artists who painted slavery images, depicting all forms of representations and emotions. European paintings depicted slavery between the periods 1250 to 1800. Conclusively, slavery in the Euro...