Leopold II - Eyes, Window to The Soul Painting

his painting portrays Leopold II, the second King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909 and the autocratic ruler of the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908. His reign in the Congo Free State was marked by extreme brutality, including the gruesome amputation of hands from men, women, and children who failed to meet rubber quotas. Under his rule, the Congolese population is estimated to have suffered a devastating decline, ranging from 1 to 15 million, due to epidemic diseases, acts of violence by his regime, and famine caused by his policies. The significance of painting a figure like Leopold II lies in the need to give a face to the cause of suffering endured by black people. Behind Leopold, there is a glowing aura, symbolizing how some view his actions as a necessary evil, attributing them to a misguided attempt to "civilize" and introduce religion to African people. This contrasting halo of light is bordered by darkness, and intricate filigree. The darkness represents the heinous atrocities that occurred under his regime in the Congo. The filigree in the painting signifies the separation of Leopold's actions from his image, emphasizing the need to expose the power structures that have brutalized black people and continue to do so. Within the filigree, rubber tree leaves are incorporated as a poignant reminder of the traumatic exploitation of rubber resources that caused immense suffering to the Congolese people. Historically, statues of Leopold stood around the world until the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests prompted a reevaluation of why such figures were commemorated.