Gezicht op Baracoa c. 1848

Frédéric Mialhe made this print of Baracoa, Cuba, depicting the environs of the city and the customs of travelers in the region. At first glance, the lithograph romanticizes Cuban landscapes, but upon closer inspection, it reveals a more complex narrative of race, class, and colonialism. The contrast between the light-skinned travelers on horseback and the dark-skinned figure running alongside them introduces a racial hierarchy. This division reflects the social structure of colonial Cuba, where the white elite controlled the means of transport and leisure. The locals were relegated to service roles. The seemingly innocent scene of travel becomes a stage for the enactment of power dynamics, revealing how travel and exploration were often intertwined with exploitation and control. We are left to consider the emotional and personal dimensions of such a journey. The artist subtly directs our gaze towards the human cost of colonial expansion.