What is most immediately striking about this marble bust is that the
whiteness of the marble contrasts dramatically with the features of
the child represented here. The marble depicts the head of a black
African boy. Produced during the time when slavery was widespread,
does the whiteness of the marble `imposed' on the black child make
reference to the domination of Africa by countries such as England,
France and Holland at the time? The classical medallion around his
neck is also curious. In the context of late 17th/early 18th century
political ideologies, is this another example of Western culture
attempting to superce non-Western culture in the name of Empire and
commercial exploitation? I would also like to express my concern
about the titling of the work, which it acquired some time in its
history. The bust was purchased in 1943 with this title and as such
it was accessioned with it.
