Allegorie op Afrika 1785

Simon Fokke’s engraving presents an allegorical vision of Africa, teeming with symbols that carry the weight of cultural encounter. Prominently, we see indigenous figures alongside exotic fauna, framed by lush vegetation. Observe the parrots perched in the tree above. Birds, throughout history, have represented freedom, but here, coupled with other elements, they evoke the exotic allure of distant lands, echoing similar motifs in Renaissance maps where unknown territories were adorned with fantastical creatures. This harks back to the medieval ‘Bestiaries’, offering moralized views of nature. The inclusion of local people, along with the Dutch flag in the background further speaks to a narrative steeped in colonial ambition. The serpent, slithering in the foreground, a symbol since antiquity, carries connotations of both wisdom and deceit, here perhaps hinting at the complex undercurrents of cultural exchange and the inherent tensions within. These symbols don't exist in isolation. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings as they traverse through time, engaging our subconscious on a primal level.