Rufisque 1889

Edouard Riou created this lithograph of Rufisque, Senegal, in the late 19th century. We see a settlement under a vast sky, with a long line of people stretching toward the buildings. Riou was a well-known illustrator for French periodicals, often accompanying colonial expeditions. This image, likely made for such a publication, provides a window into the visual culture surrounding French colonial expansion in West Africa. Note how the artist positions the viewer outside the settlement, emphasizing a sense of distance and perhaps even control. The orderly line of people suggests a regulated society, reinforcing a European perspective on colonial administration. By studying sources like colonial archives, travel literature, and even photographs from the period, we can further understand the complex relationship between artistic representation and colonial power. Art like this was not neutral; it actively shaped perceptions and justified imperial ambitions.