The Colour Line

In The Colour Line, Lafanu Brown's journey as a Black woman artist in 19th-century Europe intertwines with a modern curator's quest to bring her cousin to safety.

Set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Europe, The Colour Line tells the inspiring story of Lafanu Brown, an audacious Black woman who pursues her dream of becoming an artist. In the aftermath of the American Civil War, Lafanu faces immense challenges as a Black woman, yet her determination drives her to leave her difficult past behind. Born to a Native American mother and an African-Haitian father, she seizes the rare opportunity to travel and study art, despite the intolerance and violence that often surround her. By 1887, Lafanu has established herself as one of Rome's most celebrated painters, ready to share her life story with her fiancé, revealing the struggles she overcame from her impoverished beginnings.

In a parallel narrative, the story shifts to 2019, where an Italian art curator of Somali descent finds herself on a mission to bring her young cousin to Europe. This cousin, at just sixteen, has already faced the dangers of a perilous journey to Italy. As the curator organizes an art exhibition that juxtaposes Lafanu Brown's historic works with contemporary pieces from young migrants, she becomes increasingly captivated by Lafanu's life and the secrets that shaped her artistry.

Through the intertwining of these two powerful narratives, The Colour Line explores the complexities of identity, the struggles of being 'other,' and the unique challenges faced by women, particularly Black women, in foreign lands, both in the past and present. Igiaba Scego's masterful storytelling sheds light on the resilience and strength that define these women's journeys.