Visual Representation

Le Marron Inconnu - Art Analysis

The name of the statue is Le Marron Inconnu, which literally translates to "The Unknown Maroon.” A maroon refers to someone who has escaped from slavery – meaning “The Unkown Slave”. The statue is supposed to represent the first person to escape from the oppression of French colonialism and lead the rebellion, which the statue shows clearly with the conch shell calling for action. In not giving the runaway slave a name, the statue is able to honor the heroic actions of all Haitian revolutionaries. On a more figurative level, the anonymity of the first maroon symbolizes the Haitian revolution as a collective movement where every member of the revolution is reflected.

The statue is displayed in Port Au Prince, the capital of Haiti. It stands right outside of the National Palace where the President of Haiti resides, and serves as an image of the history of the country. It reminds every person walking into the building of what the past of their great nation is, and to keep working hard and fighting to make their ancestors proud. Le Marron Inconnu was commissioned by the Duvalier government to a Haitian sculptor named Albert Mangonès and was finalized on September 20, 1967. The Duvalier Government was formed under Francios Duvalier, who was elected into office due to his passion for ending mulatto elitism. This passion can be seen in how the president placed it outside of his home, so that he can see it everyday.

The lines in this sculpture are critical when analyzing. Horizontally, one foot is shackled and outstretched to symbolize the figure running away from slavery. On the other side, a machete extends horizontally to emphasize change and the call to arms of the revolution. In conjunction, the horizontal lines represent the transition from escaping slavery to joining the revolutionary cause and fighting against oppression. These lines also draw our attention to the conch shell as many of them point upwards. The vertical lines point with his head to heaven, looking at the people that died for the cause as well as calling the people with the conch. The newly freed slave also shows his dominance in the arch of his back. The statue’s left leg has broken chains, which shows his recent escape from slavery. The leg behind him is extended showing that he is moving away from his past, while his front right leg is poised and ready to go forward. The machete also shows how the tools they used for farming will aid them in their revolt, while demonstrating the violence and aggression against their oppressors. The conch allows for him to call for action among the people, rallying for a slave rebellion and signifying the revolutionary nature of the enslaved.

The Le Marron Inconnu is in dialogue with a long and rich tradition of images depicting the liberation of slaves, and also makes references to classical art that seems to have nothing to do with slavery. One of the most blatant references is through the conch shell which the unknown slave is holding. The statue holds the conch in their hand, displayed high up for all to see, and facing the sky. This is exactly what was happening in the statue of Triton. From the position of the conch shell to how confidently it is held in the statues’ hands, both statues become eerily similar when comparing the arms holding the shell. However, what is different between the two statues is that Triton is using the shell to calm the waters, while the unknown slave is using it to call his comrades to war. Both pieces of artwork represent a leader giving command to their subjects, but Le Marron Inconnu provides a stronger message of fighting for emancipation.

The revolution in Haiti is unique because of how it affected the world. Not only did the Haitians complete the first successful slave revolt, they also established a full fledged slave state. The heroic stories and catalyzing art that resulted from the uprising would go on to become an important piece in the abolitionist movement of the western world and still serve as inspiration for revolutionaries today.