Paper short abstract:

The research explores the question of representation of trans-Atlantic slave trade and African slaves in Lithuanian visual culture. It raises the questions regarding sources of this knowledge and if/how it was reflected in the representation of Africans in Lithuanian art from 16th-21st centuries.

Paper long abstract:

My research explores the question of representation of trans-Atlantic slave trade and African slaves in Lithuanian culture. It is the first research on this topic in Lithuanian Humanities, therefore the following questions will be considered: Who at that time produced the knowledge about the trans-Atlantic slave trade and African slaves? If/how this knowledge was reflected in the representation of Africans in Lithuanian art from 17th-21st centuries? In order to understand the Lithuanian attitudes towards the slave trade I will first establish the categories, where the contacts and flow of information could have happen. Among those the most important will be:

1). City dwellers enjoyed the traveling African shows that have visited Lithuania as part of their European tour. Such performances could have provided a lump of imagination and talks to Lithuanian town dwellers, but without constant support from the state racial propaganda, racist sentiment quickly drowned, leaving room for never-ending domestic anti-Semitism. 2). Lithuanian noblemen, who starting from 16th century quite often had one or two black servants in their mansions. 3). Lithuanian and Jewish travelers and immigrants to the USA and African countries, who brought back different stories and artifacts.

The most important works representing African slaves and servants will be presented and discussed. It will include few paintings of the black servants in the Lithuanian noble families, photographic collection of the "exotic" people held at the Vilnius University Rare Collection library, works by the contemporary Lithuanian artists on the concept of "slave", and others.