Why was born into slavery, created by Jean Baptiste Calvo
statue
Artwork
3D model of statue
Museum collections
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Gypsum statue
French artist
sculptor
Jean Baptiste Calvo
Why were you born into slavery
2
Coin
The copyright of the 3D model belongs to the original author and the material may not be distributed, published, transmitted, copied, rented, resold or compiled in any form.
As one of the most powerful expressions of abolitionist sentiment in visual art, "Why Born Enslaved!" depicts an African woman who is bound by ropes and provocatively looks up. The rope painfully pressed against her breasts; Her tattered shirt hinted at the violence that caused her illness. The original colored surface is covered with complex and intricate shadows and subtle shapes. There is evidence to suggest that this masterpiece of 19th-century French sculpture is the primary model for numerous castings in other museum collections. It is currently housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art.
