Acrylic on canvas
97 by 130.5 cm
This work was inspired by the famous painting Le Radeau de la Méduse (The Raft of the Medusa) by Théodore Géricault (1818-1819, the Louvre, Paris). The inclusion of a black man as the pinnacle of the composition in the traditional Western art historical canon is rare. In the painting, the black slave climbs on top of the mast, waving a piece of cloth to draw the rescue ships’ attention and save his fellow survivors. The artist is deeply touched by his heroic act and dramatic representationof the scene.
