"why Be Born A Slave?" - Jb Carpeaux - Terracotta Bust

"Why Be Born a Slave?" by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, created in 1868, is a bust depicting a chained Black woman, her face turned in an expression of pain and dignity. It symbolizes the fight against slavery and was created shortly after the definitive abolition of slavery in France (1848). The work is both a humanist manifesto and a poignant testimony to oppression, underscored by its striking title. Carpeaux blends realism and emotion to provoke reflection on the human condition and freedom.

Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (1827-1875) is one of the greatest French sculptors of the 19th century. A student at the École des Beaux-Arts, he won the Prix de Rome in 1854. He distinguished himself with an expressive and realistic style, breaking with neoclassicism. Among his famous works are The Dance for the Opéra Garnier and Why Be Born a Slave?