Saartjes Baartman, a Black domestic, left Southern Africa in 1808, seeking fame and fortune in Europe. However, she was instead exhibited as a freak in a carnival show in London, where her master-turned-manager exploited her. After a series of troubles, they traveled to Paris, where Saartje was forced to mimic savagery and expose her body in carnivals, salons, and brothels. French anatomists studied her unusual anatomy, declaring her the missing link between ape and man. Tragically, Saartje died alone at 27 from pneumonia and venereal disease.
Black Venus
A 19th-century African woman is exhibited as a foreign novelty across Europe, sparking controversy and raising questions about racism and cultural appropriation.
