Fictions of Emancipation: Carpeaux Recast

Fictions of Emancipation: Carpeaux Recast is a 2022–2023 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum that examines the work and legacy of the 19th-century French sculptor Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux. The exhibition brings together historical works, archival materials, and contemporary artistic responses to interrogate Carpeaux's representations of emancipation and freedom, particularly in relation to his famous sculpture 'Ugolino and His Sons' and other works depicting enslaved and liberated figures.

Through this reexamination, the exhibition challenges traditional art historical narratives and invites viewers to consider how Carpeaux's sculptures have been interpreted, displayed, and understood across different historical moments. By pairing historical works with contemporary artistic interventions, the show explores the fictions embedded in narratives of emancipation and the ways in which artistic representation both reflects and shapes our understanding of freedom, agency, and human dignity.