La Motte-Piquet Sauve un Convoi (Motte-Piquet Saves a Convoy) (Furnishing Fabric) 1782

Pierre Ozanne created this furnishing fabric, "La Motte-Piquet Saves a Convoy," sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century, amidst France's maritime ambitions and colonial exploits. The print depicts a naval officer, La Motte-Piquet, celebrated for his protection of French convoys during the Anglo-French War. While seemingly a patriotic commemoration, the fabric hints at the complex entanglement of power, trade, and identity. The scene showcases the heroic ideal of French naval prowess, it implicitly celebrates France's colonial activities and the economic structures built on the backs of enslaved people in its colonies. Consider how this decorative textile might have functioned within the domestic sphere. Who was invited to sit with this scene of heroism and wealth generation? The imagery served as a constant reminder of France's global reach and power. While stories of naval heroism were woven into the fabric, the stories and experiences of those affected by the depicted events remained conspicuously absent.