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Femme des Colonies

Femme des Colonies is a sculpture by Charles Cordier, made in 1861 and now held at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. It is a polychrome bust in onyx and patinated bronze, set on a gilded base of pink marble. The work was created in the years following the abolition of slavery in the Second French Empire, an event that strongly inspired Cordier. The contrast between the onyx dress and the very dark bronze skin is one of its most striking features. The woman wears gold and enamel earrings, with short curly hair covered by a small turban and flower. The title was later changed in the 21st century to avoid offensive terminology.

Bust of Woman from the French Colonies with dark textured hair, an ornate hair ornament, and a draped garment over her shoulders.
Woman from the French Colonies, a sculptural bust with detailed hair and drapery on a dark pedestal.
April 2019 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bust of Woman from the French Colonies with tightly curled hair and a floral headpiece on a pedestal.
Woman from the French Colonies, a sculptural bust with elaborate curls, a floral headpiece, and a draped garment.
April 2019 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bust of Woman from the French Colonies with curled hair and a floral headdress.
Woman from the French Colonies, shown here as a bust with curled hair, a floral headdress, and a draped shoulder.
April 2019 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bust of Woman from the French Colonies showing a dark-skinned female figure with curled hair, a small headpiece, and draped fabric.
Woman from the French Colonies, a bust of a dark-skinned female figure draped in flowing fabric.
May 2019 © · CC BY 2.0
Bust of Woman from the French Colonies with textured hair, shown close up with a second draped figure in the background.
A close-up of Woman from the French Colonies, with another related sculpture visible behind it.
April 2019 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleFemme des Colonies
Typebust
Original French titleLa capresse des colonies
French titleFemme des colonies
Italian titleLa mulatta delle colonie
English titleWoman from the French Colonies
Original/common title outside FranceCannryyu(è
Inventory numberRF 2996

Creator

ArtistCharles Cordier

Historical context

Year1861
Exhibited atthe Salon in 1861
Creation contextMade in the years following the abolition of slavery in the Second French Empire; Cordier was strongly inspired by the abolition of slavery for the creation of his works

Discovery and provenance

Transferred tothe Louvre Museum in 1920
Transferred tothe Musée d'Orsay in 1986
Assigned tothe Luxembourg Museum in 1870
Held in collectionthe emperor's collection until 1870
Original/common title outside FranceOutside France, the work commonly retains its original designation
Acquired bythe house of Napoleon III

Location and ownership

Current locationMusée d'Orsay, Paris, France
Other known exampleanother example of the sculpture exists at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, United States
Related work at the Metropolitan Museumthe bust forms a pair with The Algerian Jewess

Materials

Main materialsonyx and patinated bronze
Base / pedestalgilded pink marble
Polychromypolychrome sculpture

Appearance

Hairstyleshort curly hair
Head coveringsmall turban with a flower inserted in it
Facial expressionFace tilted upward with a slightly smiling expression
JewelryThe New York version wears gold and enamel earrings
Comparison with another figureContrasts with the Algerian Jew, who has her head lowered and a serious gaze
GarmentThe garment is made of onyx and contrasts with the very dark bronze skin

Iconography and meaning

Meaning of original term'Capresse' indicates the daughter of a Black man and a mulatto

History and restoration

RenamingRenamed in the 21st century to avoid words considered offensive

Other

Museum contextLike other depictions of African subjects in the Musée d'Orsay, including Cordier's Negro of the Sudan