French colonization of Madagascar
Subtitle: photograph collection
Published: 1897
Language: eng
Description: Collection of 49 original silver gelatin photographs showing early photographs of the French colonization of Madagascar.
Notes: Provisional cataloging from description supplied by vendor.

Includes photographs of Madagascar's Newly Appointed Governor, General Joseph Gallieni and Other French Officials During Their Tours Through Madagascar's Administrative regions (Ambohidratimo, Antanarivo, Mahajanga, Diego-Suarez, Sainte Marie etc.), Additionally an execution including a French soldier, hospital and road construction, and portraits of Malagasy people.

Includes one large photograph ca. 28 x 36.5 cm (11 x 14 ¼ in.), five photographs between ca. 20.5 x 25.5 cm (8 x 10 in.) and 15 x 21 cm (6 x8 ½ in.), 24 photographs between ca. 11 x 15.5 cm (4 ¼ x 6 in.) and ca. 13 x 18 cm (5 x 7 in.), and 19 photographs each ca. 9 x 12cm (3 ½ x 4 ¾ in.) and smaller, with 33 captions in period manuscript ink or pencil and three photographs dated and signed "A Dosquet?".

The collection of photographs shows General Joseph Gallieni (French Governor of Madagascar 1896-1905) and other French officials touring different administrative regions of Madagascar in its early years as a French colony, including Ambohidratimo, Tananarive (Antanarivo), Majunga (Mahajanga), Diego-Suarez, Sainte Marie and others. The largest photograph i sa group portrait of French officials with their bicycles, with a clear view of colonial buildings in the background. After being appointed as Governor of this new colony in 1896, Gallieni reorganized French forces, and is known for capturing and executing several rebel leaders: a series of six photographs shows the execution of two people, at least one of them appears to be a French soldier.

Many photographs show local people, including  portraits of Sakalava and Hova women, a group of locals dancing and men carrying the director of administrative services in a filanzane (litter). One  photograph shows rows of people lined up in front of a French “transportation de subsistance” office holding large woven baskets; the caption reads “Malagasy bringing rice to the administrative services."

Other photographs show the arrival of the General in different villages and the festivities organized in his honor; and there is one image of a crowd gathered for a “kabary” (improvised conference between two groups from different cultures). One photograph shows the General passing by in a canoe as people watch from the banks of the river. Gallieni’s role was largely administrative, and the collection includes several photographs of infrastructure changes in the country, including a hospital under construction in Ambohidratimo, and workers building a new road.
Table of contents: title: (captions) Le chef du Service administratif en filanzane; Ankaralié, Campement en plein air; title: Arrivée du général – Arc de triomphe dressé à Andravoahangy; title: Maison du directeur des services administratifs, Tamatave; title: Types de tirailleurs comoriens; title: Construction de l’hôpital d’Ambohidratimo; title: Kabary du général, Tamatave; title: Premier étage de la maison du directeur des services administratifs; title: Femme de Ste Marie; Antsirane,  1897; title: Magasin des subsistances […] de Morondava; title: Peloton d’exécution; title: […] arrivant au lieu d’exécution; title: […] au poteau; title: (Les mêmes) dernière minute -  Feu !; title: On retire les cadavres; title: Danse exécutée dans la cour d’Analaekely; title: Papotte des officiers du commissariat à Tananarive; title: Le pont et l’ancienne piste militaire à l’intersection de la nouvelle route; title: Majunga 1897, Dosquet; title: Armée hova réunie sur la place de [...?] à Tananarive; title: Femme sakalave; title: Ambinanigolo?, Arrivage? du général Gallieni en pirogue; title: Femmes sakalaves, Morondava; title: Ivondro, en attendant le général; title: Femme hova; title: Embouchure de X; title: Palais de la Reine à Tananarive -  Jeune fille hova; title: L’arrivée du général à   Sambayama; title: Rue de Tananarive, 1898; title: L’arrivée du général à Analamaraotra; title: Malgaches apportant du riz aux services administratifs; title: En forêt dans les hauteurs du col d’Amboazary, route de Tamatave.