Azië en Afrika 1768 - 1771

Jean Charles Delafosse created this print, titled ‘Asia and Africa’, sometime in the 18th century. Here we see a decorative monument, likely intended as a design for an actual monument or architectural feature. What's striking is how Asia and Africa are represented through symbolic elements: shields bearing images of a lion and an elephant, along with items like wheat and weapons, alluding to the resources and perceived characteristics of these continents. The ram skulls may connect to ancient trade routes or colonial aspirations. Made in France, this work reflects the Enlightenment-era fascination with categorizing and understanding the world. But it also hints at the era's emerging colonial ambitions and the power dynamics inherent in representing entire continents through a few selected symbols. To fully understand this image, one can delve into the visual codes of the time and research French colonial history and institutional collections of art.