"le Marché De Salaga" 1892

Edouard Riou created "le Marché De Salaga" as an engraving. During the late 19th century, Riou was one of many European artists who produced images of foreign lands, reflecting Europe's colonial gaze. This work depicts a market scene in Salaga, a significant trading hub in what is now Ghana. Notice how the composition emphasizes the daily activities and social interactions within the market, but also subtly reinforces power dynamics. While seemingly documenting an everyday scene, the image also reflects the colonial era's fascination with and often biased representations of African societies. Consider the role of gender here. The women are depicted performing labor, such as carrying heavy loads, which contrasts with the men in more relaxed poses. In creating this piece, Riou likely didn't intend to critique colonialism, yet, in viewing it today, we can reflect on how such images both shape and distort our understanding of history and culture.