The far-right German sign a new controversy with a poster campaign. For the european elections, the party of the AfD (Alternative for Germany) has used a table of the Nineteenth century, entitled slave Market of the French painter Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824-1904), much to the chagrin of the american museum who owns it.
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The section berlin of the party, known for his positions (anti-immigration), selected for a poster to use this table of 1866 showing the men bearded and wearing turbans looking at a naked woman, by displaying the slogans: «The Europeans vote for the AfD» and «to ensure that Europe does not become «Eurabe»».
«We strongly condemn the use of the table» slave Market , oil on canvas by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1866. Clark Art Institute
But the Clark Art Institute, based in Massachusetts and who owns this work of the French painter Jean-Léon Gérôme, protested after having seen the displays of the AfD on Twitter. «We strongly condemn the use of this table to support the political position of the AfD, and we have written to ask them to stop,» said Olivier Meslay, the director of the institute. He recognized, however, that the table being in the public domain, «there is no copyright or authorization allowing us to exercise control over the manner in which it is used, otherwise than by calling the AfD Berlin to make proof of correction».
The poster has also sparked sharp criticism on social networks. Serap Guler, member of the CDU, the party of German chancellor Angela Merkel, said on Twitter: «No, the true Europeans do not elect racists. True Europeans do not defend Europe with fear and hatred».
This is not the first time that the AfD raises a controversy with one of his posters. For the campaign of the general elections of 2017, it had blanketed the public space with eye-catching posters, showing the female body naked, with this message: «The burqa? We prefer the bikini». The AfD is from September 2017, the main opposition party in the chamber of deputies.
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european Elections : a test for Germany – Look on Figaro Live
