Saartjie Baartman

Trompe-l’œil Poster / Photoshop Composite

This poster was created for Curved, a fictional magazine honoring feminist women throughout history. The concept centered on the phrase “keep body and soul together,” which speaks to survival—especially under harsh and dehumanizing conditions.

In this piece, Saartjie Baartman stands as a symbol of resilience. Her body was once objectified and exploited, yet in this poster, she is reimagined as a figure of strength and defiance. Set against a barren desert landscape—a visual metaphor for struggle—she stands tall, with a subtle touch of green woven into her form to represent life, hope, and the enduring connection between body and soul.

The final composition involved blending multiple images, carefully color-matching Saartjie to the environment, and integrating typography to echo the message. Every element was chosen to reflect the emotional and historical weight of her story, while honoring the spirit of survival and identity