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Conservatoire Africain [Les Noirauds]

c1920s. Colour lithograph, 79.9 x 43.5cm. Linen-backed.

Text in French continues “Oeuvre des Creches. Mardi-Gras.”

Les Noirauds (“The Blacks”) was founded in 1876 to save a Brussels orphanage on the verge of bankruptcy. The festival, which is now controversial, features fund-raisers dressing up in blackface and 18th century-style clothing to retain the tradition of anonymity. The money is collected from restaurateurs to assist children’s charities and a black doll is used to store the donations. Ref: BBC, 19 March 2015.

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Item #CL182-21

Price (AUD): $1,250.00  other currencies