Uneasy Collection

The King of Ashantis Palace at Kumasi, 1874
The King of Ashantis palace at Kumasi, the Ashanti capital, viewed from the east in 1874 towards the end of the second Ashanti War (1873-74)

Fante Soldiers serving with the British against the Ashanti
Soldiers from the Fante tribe who served under the British in their war against the Ashanti empire on the Gold Coast. In 1873

An uneasy couple; The old farmer caresses the cook's maid, 1625-1688. Creator: Jan Miense Molenaer
An uneasy couple; The old farmer caresses the cook's maid who is polishing silverware in the manor's kitchen, 1625-1668

Au salon. Illustration for Le Pele-Mele, 1902 (colour litho)
3100604 Au salon. Illustration for Le Pele-Mele, 1902 (colour litho) by Rabier, Benjamin (1869-1939); Private Collection; (add.info.: Au salon)

Barclays Dictionary, word: Restive (engraving)
5997745 Barclays Dictionary, word: Restive (engraving) by Craig, William Marshall (fl.1788-1828) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Restive)

Portrait of a Woman, c. 1898 (oil on canvas)
BRN165309 Portrait of a Woman, c.1898 (oil on canvas) by Cezanne, Paul (1839-1906); 93.3x73.3 cm; The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Volunteer Meeting at Wimbledon (engraving)
1054483 The Volunteer Meeting at Wimbledon (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Volunteer Meeting at Wimbledon)

Fluctuat. Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho)
2786434 Fluctuat. Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fluctuat)

Portrait of a Woman (oil on panel)
FIT167203 Portrait of a Woman (oil on panel) by Hemessen, Katharina van (1527-66); 33x25 cm; Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge, UK; eFitzwilliam Museum; Netherlandish, out of copyright

The Ashanti War (1873-74) - The burning of Kumasi
In 1873, after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British and the Acing people of central Ghana, the British attacked and virtually destroyed the Asanti capital of Kumasi

The Princess And The Pea. Colour Illustration By Helen Stratton From The Book Hans Andersens Fairy Tales Published C.1930

Boy Wearing Over Sized Hat Sideways

Summoning bearers to Cape Coast Castle, 1874
Natives from protected tribes are summoned with a bell and shouts to act as bearers or carriers for the British in the 2nd Ashanti War (1873-74)

View from Government House, Cape Coast Castle, 1873
This is the view from Government House, Cape Coast Castle, headquarters of the the British on the Gold Coast. In 1873, after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British

The Ashanti War (1873-74) Arrivals at Cape Coast Castle
Arrivals at the North Gate of Cape Coast Castle. In 1873, after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British and the Acing people of central Ghana

Grand Palaver at Jellah Coffee, 1874
A scene from the Gold Coast - a Grand Palaver at Jellah Coffee between the Administrator and the native kings and chiefs. From left to right, Folu, King of Jellah Coffee; Adjaba

The Ashanti War (1873-74) The 42nd Highlanders in the front
This shows the soldiers from the 42nd Highlanders engaged in the front of the battle against the Ashantis during the 2nd Ashanti War towards the end of 1873

Cape Coast Castle and forts in 1873
Cape Coast Castle was the was the seat of British colonialism upto the time of the 2nd Ashanti War. In 1873, after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British

C12 King in Bed
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown - especially if you try to sleep in it ! No wonder this crowned head is sitting up with an unhappy face... Date: 12th century

Two little children wait to jump off a small rock
Now Jump! Two little children look warily down at the sea from their precarious perch on a small rock and assess when best to make a leap for it! Date: circa 1920s

Uneasy Turks. Illustration shows two turkeys, one dressed as a Turk standing among smoking bombs and pumpkins, beneath clouds that rain axes, bombs, vegetables, pies, and rifles upon them

Lear / Nonsense / Man / West
There was an Old Man of the West, who wore a pale plum- coloured vest; When they said, Does it fit? he replied, Not a bit! that uneasy Old Man of the West

The Ashanti War (1873-74) - Native soldiers surprised
A night alarm during sentry duty during the 2nd Ashanti War. Native soldiers eyes wide with fear tread softly in the direction of danger

The town of Sutah, Gold Coast, 1874
Sutah was one of the towns which the British took on their expedition to defeat the King of Ashanti during the 2nd Ashanti War (1873-74)

The Ashanti War (1873-74) Paying a West India regiment
British officers paying soldiers of a West India regiment during the 2nd Ashanti War. In 1873, after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British and the Acing people of central Ghana

Port of Christianborg near Accra, 1873
This former Swedish outpost on the Gold Coast was sold to the British in 1873 when, after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British and the Acing people of central Ghana

A young boy with British officers in Kumasi, 1874
The last in Kumasi - a young boy eating bananas while a British officer tries to talk to him. In the background, the British troops are marching away

The Ashanti War (1873-74)
The British camp of Mansu on the road to the Prah river during the 2nd Ashanti War (1873-74). In 1873, after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British

The Castle of Elmina, Gold Coast, 1873
The Castle of Elmina which both the British and the Ashanti Kings tried to capture sits on the shore of the Gold Coast. In 1873

Accra and its coastline in 1873
Accra sketched in 1873, the year, when after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British and the Acing people of central Ghana

Panoramic view of Cape Coast Castle, 1874
Panoramic view of Cape Coast Castle, headquarters and garrison of the British on the Gold Coast, West Africa. It has been sketched from the bridge of the steam ship Volta ans shows the coastline

The Ashanti War (1873-74) The battlefield of Abrakrampa
The battlefield of Abrakrampa during the 2nd Ashanti War where trees have been chopped down. In 1873, after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British

A village on the river Prah during the 2nd Ashanti War
On their march towards the Ashanti capital of Kumasi, British soldiers watch the peaceful scene of women catching fish and tritons in the river Prah

Sentries of the different lines of troops in Camp at Prahsu
Sentries of the different lines of troops in camp at Prah-su during the 2nd Ashanti War (1873-74). In 1873, after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British

The town of Accroful, 1874
Accroful was one of the towns where the British and set up camp on their expedition to defeat the King of Ashanti during the 2nd Ashanti War (1873-74)

The Ashanti War (1873-74) The camp at Prah-su, 1874
Native artillery crossing the river at the camp at Prah-su, on the river Prah. Native bearers or carriers bring artillery over the bridge

The Camp at Dunquah, Gold Coast, 1874
Dunquah was one of the towns where the British set up camp on their expedition to defeat the King of Ashanti during the 2nd Ashanti War (1873-74)

Town of Barracoe, Gold Coast, 1874
Barracoe was one of the towns which the British took on their expedition to defeat the King of Ashanti during the 2nd Ashanti War (1873-74)

The Ashanti War (1873-74) - The arrival of stores
The arrival of stores carried by native bearers to a British garrison during the 2nd Ashanti War. In 1873, after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British

The King of Ashantis bed, 1874
A British soldier looks into the bedchamber of the King of Ashanti which has a raised four poster bed with a canopy. In 1873

Ashanti war drums, 1874
Ashanti war drums by a wall. In 1873, after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British and the Acing people of central Ghana

Selling Indian corn on the streets of Cape Coast Castle, 187
Natives selling Indian corn in the streets of Cape Coast Castle, headquarters of the British on the Gold Coast. This was sketched during the 2nd Ashantee War (1873-74)

The town of Yancomassie-Assin, 1874
Yancommassie-Assin was one of the towns where the British and set up camp on their expedition to defeat the King of Ashanti during the 2nd Ashanti War (1873-74)

Water supply to Cape Coast Castle, 1874
The water supply to Cape Coast Castle, headquarters of the British in the Gold Coast. In 1873, after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British and the Acing people of central Ghana

Market place at Kumasi, 1873
The market place at Kumasi before the arrival of the British forces during the 2nd Ashanti War. In 1873, after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British

Shipping bullocks to Cape Coast Castle, 1874
Shipping bullocks from Sierra Leone for Cape Coast Castle during the British expedition to crush the King of the Ashantis in the 2nd Ashanti War (1873-74)

The Ashanti War (1873-74) - Native carriers crossing mangrov
This shows the difficulties of the native bearers as they tried to cross the mangroves on the river banks of the river Prah

The Queen of Ashantis bed, 1874
A British soldier enters the empty bedchamber of the Queen of Ashanti which has a bed on the floor and is nowhere near as grand an affair as the Kings bedchamber

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In the midst of historical turmoil and cultural clashes, a sense of unease permeates these captivating images. "The King of Ashanti's Palace at Kumasi, 1874" captures the opulence and grandeur of a kingdom on the brink of conflict. The looming presence of Fante Soldiers serving with the British against the Ashanti hints at an uneasy alliance forged in uncertain times. Meanwhile, "Au salon" transports us to a sophisticated gathering where hidden tensions lie beneath polite smiles. In this colourful lithograph from 1902, there is an air of restiveness as individuals navigate societal expectations while concealing their true emotions. The Barclays Dictionary engraving depicting the word "Restive" evokes feelings of resistance and rebellion. It serves as a reminder that even language itself can convey uneasiness through its definitions. A portrait painted around 1898 portrays a woman whose expression betrays inner turmoil amidst her serene visage. Is she grappling with personal struggles or societal constraints? The answer remains elusive, adding to our sense of unease. At Wimbledon's Volunteer Meeting depicted in an engraving, faces are filled with anticipation but also apprehension. As they gather for unknown purposes, uncertainty hangs heavy in the air like an invisible fog. The colour lithograph titled "Fluctuat, " featured in Le Rire magazine, captures moments frozen in time - scenes that evoke both laughter and discomfort simultaneously. Its vibrant hues cannot mask the underlying disquietude present within its frames. Another portrait reveals yet another enigmatic woman gazing into eternity on an oil panel canvas. Her inscrutable expression leaves us wondering about her thoughts and desires; perhaps it is this ambiguity that unsettles us most profoundly. From ancient history to fairy tales brought to life by Helen Stratton's illustrations from Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales published circa 1930 - we encounter uneasy narratives once again.