Albert Bettanier - The Black Spot [1887]

Albert Bettanier - The Black Spot [1887], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

Albert Bettanier (Metz, 1851 - Paris, 1932) was a French painter.

In The Black Spot a geography teacher shows his pupils the area that must be regained by a next generation, in line with the one and indivisible education policies of the French Republic. Various details reveal the warlike spirit of the day. Next to the black stain, a huge sinister blackboard represents the German threat in the East, heightened by the drum in the corner. On the far wall, a map of the walled-in city of Paris reminds of the Prussian siege of 1871, symbolized by the black, unlit ceiling-lamp that stretches out its eagle-like talons towards it.