Postcards from Africa: Photographers of the Colonial Era

In the early 20th century, photographers in Africa capitalized on the global postcard craze to capture and distribute images of the continent, providing a unique insight into political, social, and cultural changes. These postcards, produced for a local and international audience, depict colonial administrations, resource exploitation, and tribal identities, reflecting the colonizers' worldview. However, they also reveal the participation of African women and men in these photographic encounters, showcasing their recognition of the power of images to enhance their standing and present their own narratives. Postcards from Africa reproduces a selection of these complex postcards, accompanied by scholarly analysis, from the Leonard A. Lauder Postcard Archive at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Format: Hardback
Length: 148 pages
Publication date: 06 September 2018
Publisher: Museum of Fine Arts,Boston

A thorough examination of photographic postcards created in Africa during the early 20th century unveils intriguing visuals and unveils the often-complex narratives associated with them. Photographers in Africa capitalized on the global postcard craze that reached its peak around 1900 and persisted for several decades. Their picture postcards now play a crucial role in understanding the political, social, and cultural transformations that occurred in Africa during this period, as the emergence of the new medium coincided with the expansion and consolidation of colonial rule. Additionally, these postcards offer a unique opportunity to reconstruct the lives and work of the photographers of European, African, and other backgrounds who captured these images, many of which exist solely in postcard form and were occasionally published as well.

The postcards were produced for a diverse audience, including residents and travelers in Africa, as well as buyers and collectors who had never set foot on the continent. Their depictions of colonial administrations, resource exploitation, and the inscription of tribal identities and racial classifications often reflect the colonizers' worldview. However, it is also possible to recover the authorship of some of the African women and men who participated in these photographic encounters. For instance, certain cards reveal that members of Africa's elites recognized the power of photographic images to enhance their status and present their own narratives.

Postcards from Africa presents a substantial selection of these intricate postcards, drawn primarily from the extensive Leonard A. Lauder Postcard Archive at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Accompanied by a comprehensive exploration by a leading scholar, the book delves into the stories these postcards tell and sheds light on the complex and multifaceted nature of African history during the early 20th century.

Weight: 740g
Dimension: 240 x 207 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780878468553