During my time as a reporter, I wrote about both the prestige and the controversy connected to Plainfield's ownership of Albert Bierstadt's 1893 painting, "The Landing of Columbus at San Salvador."
The prestige came partly in having the painting on loan at major museums. The controversy came from its depiction of indigenous people kneeling to Columbus and his men. As reported in this 2001 New York Times article, the image once became so objectionable as to be covered during meetings in the Plainfield courthouse, where it still hangs today.
For several years, the painting brought forth paeans from the late Kay Cotignola and pans from Rasheed Abdul-Haqq. To Kay, it represented Italian pride. Rasheed deplored it and wanted it sold to finance a youth center.
As Columbus Day, it is a federal holiday, but if you want to celebrate Indigenous People's Day instead, go for it.
--Bernice
Indigenous implies they were native to the continents of the western hemisphere... They moved here..just like everyone else .. they just moved here first.
ReplyDeletePer the work of art, it was a different time and a different era, one where people were not choking on political correctness and walking on tip toes for fear of offending. Did they kneel ? I personally can't remember and I'm a European History buff..they did kneel before the Spanish down Central America way...
The painting is racist and Columbus started the trans alantic slave trade .
ReplyDeleteJust because you do not like something or some one has a different opinion does not mean it is racist. This card has been played too many times if fact it is getting old with less and less attention paid to the statement and those who make it. Stop crying wolf Red Riding Hood
DeleteThis may upset some, but Columbus found the Americas by mistake and others were there hundreds of years before him. There are so many other people and things for Italian Americans to take pride in. See the painting. Its an embarrassment and the money is better spent on a youth center or other youth directed project, like a skateboard park, so our kids can get off the streets and sidewalks.
ReplyDeleteUn believable
DeleteA NJ court decision would have to be made if the painting or paintings were ever to be sold. The process is called a cy pres hearing. The City would have to spend thousands of dollars for the court case, and may not prevail because there are other organizations that can claim the proceeds of the sale because they still have legal standing. There were no cy pres proceedings for the assets of Muhlenberg which could lead to future claims.
ReplyDeleteI would rather have people spend their energy on getting our political officials to lower our property taxes. We are the state with the highest property taxes in the nation. To be an average property taxed state is one I would welcome. Then we can talk about Columbus.
ReplyDeletePlainfielders should be proud to own such beautiful art work. Not every city is so lucky to have beautiful art work in their city. If you don't like it then do not look at it. The person who wants to sell it for youth skateboard park should gather the people who want the park and hold a fundraiser for the building of the park. Teaching the youth that they have to work for the things they want will make them appreciate the park and hopefully take better care of it.
ReplyDeleteThe picture is racist enough: it shows the very beginning of the imposition of european power and culture onto the western hemisphere. A true high point in global colonialism.
ReplyDeleteBut don't put that on Columbus. He couldn't possibly have known what was to come. And don't blame the artist. A hundred and thirty years ago almost nobody was thinking and talking about indigenous genocide.
Take it for what it is now: a decorative cautionary tale. Don't trust those with power further than you can throw them. They don't come in peace. They never do.
Who financed Columbus ?
ReplyDeleteFirstly, Its Painting, lets love Albert Bierstadt's, eye, painting skill and interpretation and scale .
ReplyDeleteNow about , if it is how it happened who knows, its an expression , a pivotal point , which has changed the history of world And birth of America. In which we live and debate about freedom , a liberty granted , that we can humbly bow down on the wrong done in past
NOW, I think , That As Bob put it , Indians were here first , is just stupid.. What the Conquistadores did was that they destroyed an entire society , A race , a way of living and disgraced humanity by enslaving.