Early Europeans felt obligated to refine their images of Africa in order to protect the people who consumed them from culture shock. “Dutch Ambassadors Greeting the King of Kongo” is a beautiful Italian painting from the late 17th century that depicts a few Dutch men kneeling to the King of Congo and the his advisors in the background. It is a rendition or an older sketch of the scene called “King of Kongo Receiving Dutch Ambassadors”, which shows the same scene but more accurate to what was actually going on. The Italian version strips almost everything African about the scene.
The Italian rendition is very fancy and European dressing the king in flowing robes and boots. The building that it takes place in has fancy carpeting and a nice chandelier dangling from the ceiling. The Africans look very so relaxed and proper in the traditional European sense that the painting almost looks like it is depicting a religious ceremony. It is very rare to see white people kneeling to African people, so the painter of the Italian rendition had to make sure that the Africans were fit to deserve the respect of the Dutch. The only way to do so was to picture the Africans as European as possible.
Historically, the Dutch are asking the Congolese king to trade with them and in real life, he denies them and chooses to trade with the Portuguese instead. The Italian rendition was made for an Italian book about fashion from all over the world. It was made for arts sake and in order for the Italians to make them beautiful and acceptable in order to sell the most copies of their book as possible. The clothes that they wore were intended to look as exotic, but not too different from what the potential customers of the book were used to. They pictured them as European as possible because any other way would shock the audience.
Something else that I think is significant is the change in the title. The original was named "King of Kongo Receiving Dutch Ambassadors", while the rendition title was changed to "Dutch Ambassadors Greeting the King of Kongo". Though there is only a slight change in wording, I think it is worth noting.
ReplyDeleteThe first title establishes a sense of the King's superiority--he, as the dominant king, is allowing the Dutch to make him a trade offer. The second title, however, makes the King seem much less significant. By changing the wording, the Italian rendition downgrades the encounter to a mere "greeting".
The wording also changes the subject of the images, I think. The focus is shifted from the KING's reception of the Dutch, to THEIR greeting of the King.
Thanks a lot Caroline. I can't believe I completely overlooked the titles.
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ReplyDeleteOne thing that I notice is how the Italian painter tries to give the picture a certain exoticism. As you said, the Dutch were kneeling to the King. Therefore, this King had to have something out of what was though to be the ordinary for African people.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, it also represents the power that the king of Kongo had in that region. The kingdom of Kongo extended from Congos to what is now the north of Angola. So, the region he controlled was strategical because of its location, and also its resources.
One last point, please don't confuse Congo with Kongo, as Kongo was the kingdom whose capital was in M'banza Congo(in what is now northwestern Angola). And Congo, refers to the two countries in central Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo.
January 27, 2011 8:56 PM
Anette, Thanks for the tip -- spelling does indeed make a big difference here!
ReplyDeleteFaith has a wonderful argument here that turns on many of the formal aspects of the painting -- I'm looking forward to her presentation.
And I think Caroline's comments here shed even more light on Faith's claims.
Excellent conversation here!