Africa, Cast iron sculpture at Musée d'Orsay, France.
Africa is a cast iron sculpture at the Musée d'Orsay depicting a seated woman embodying the African continent through allegorical form. The work presents a nude figure in repose, adorned with traditional symbolic elements that reference African identity.
The sculpture was commissioned by the French state for display at the 1878 Exposition Universelle at the Palais du Trocadéro in Paris. Its creation during this major international exhibition reflects France's interest in presenting allegorical representations of the world's continents.
The sculpture represents Africa through symbols like traditional clothing, fruits, and vegetables, reflecting how 19th-century French artists saw the continent. These allegorical elements shape how visitors understand the work and its cultural context today.
The sculpture is permanently installed at the Musée d'Orsay in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. Visitors will find it housed within a former railway station building, so galleries are spread across multiple levels.
The sculpture spent time in Nantes in 1935 before returning to Paris. A comprehensive restoration at a specialized foundry in 1986 returned the cast iron surface to its original appearance.
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