Guittare, trompette et flute Negre Côte de Guinée before 1828

Pierre Félix van Doren created this sketch of a "Guitar, Trumpet, and Flute, Negro Coast of Guinea," sometime in the first half of the 19th century. It’s crucial to remember that in the 19th century, the term "Negro" carried deeply racist and colonial connotations, reflecting the era's dehumanizing attitudes towards African peoples. The choice to represent these instruments specifically from the "Negro Coast of Guinea" places them within a context of exoticism and potential subjugation. Van Doren’s sketch freezes these instruments within a Western gaze, framing them as objects of curiosity rather than cultural treasures played by living musicians. This act of visual capture echoes the broader colonial project of appropriating and categorizing non-Western cultures. Instead of offering an authentic portrayal, the artwork perpetuates a narrative laden with power imbalances, reminding us of the complex and often troubling ways in which art can reflect and reinforce societal prejudices.