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Analysis of "Virginian Luxuries"

“Virginian Luxuries,” showed a white slave owner kissing a black female slave on one side and beating what appears to be a black male slave on the other side. “Virginian Luxuries” illustrated the power dynamic that dominated slave society. The slave owner had authority over and easily took advantage of his slaves. This showed the slave owner in negative light, showing the sexual and physical abuse that slave owners committed against their slaves. The title itself is ironic, since what was portrayed in the painting showed the opposite of luxury, especially for the slave. However, one could conclude that the female slave perhaps enjoyed some sense of “luxury” by having a sexual relationship with the slave owner. She could have held influence over the slave owner by getting better treatment for her and her children (possibly his children), better housing, more and better food, easier job duties, etc. In the situation where most slaves didn’t have much control, she could be taking fate into her own hands to make her situation as best as she was able to.  On the right side of the painting, the white master is very aggressive, about to beat his slave. There is not a clear way to tell if this slave is male or female. At first glance, the slave on the right appears to be male, because the slave is in pants and not wearing a shirt. But the hair and body shape is similar to the female slave on the left. In thinking that the slave on the right is female, she would appear to be holding her breasts and looking confused but adamant at the slave owner at the impending attack on her body.       

Works Cited


Virginian Luxuries. 1800.

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