Queen Anacaona I (Native Haitian), Ulrick Jean-Pierre

Women have been central to Haiti’s history from the moment of first contact with Europeans. In this painting, Jean-Pierre portrays Anacaona, a young Taíno chief, or cacica. Born in 1474, Anacaona was renowned equally for her literary talents as a poet and composer of arietos, or dances, and for her legendary leadership. In 1496, Anacaona became one of the first Indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola to negotiate with Christopher Columbus and the arriving Spaniards. Although initial interactions between the Taíno and Spanish were civil, relations quickly soured as Taíno leaders realized their lands were being stolen and their people enslaved. After years of rebellion and violence, Anacaona was captured and executed by the Spanish in 1503. Her death cemented her reputation as a symbol against European colonization, while her artistic spirit and legacy continue to inspire Haitians today. In fact, the 2018 KU Common Book author Edwidge Danticat wrote an award-winning novel dedicated to Anacaona in 2005.