Swedish Exhibition Explores Life of Black 18th Century Court

Published: 11 April 2026.The English Chronicle Desk.The English Chronicle Online
A landmark exhibition in Sweden is shedding new light on the extraordinary life of an 18th-century Black intellectual whose writings and personal reflections offer rare insight into race, identity and power in early modern Europe. The exhibition explores the story of Adolf Ludvig Gustav Fredrik Albrecht Couschi, widely known as Badin, a man born into slavery who later became an influential presence within the Swedish royal court, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of diaries, books and correspondence.

Badin’s life is one of the most unusual documented personal histories of African origin individuals in Scandinavia during the 18th century. Historians believe he was born between 1747 and 1750 in St Croix, then part of the Danish West Indies, now the United States Virgin Islands. During childhood he was taken to Denmark and eventually presented as a “gift” to the Swedish queen Louisa Ulrika of Prussia, a practice that reflected the colonial mindset and social hierarchies of the era.

Despite the deeply troubling circumstances of his arrival, Badin’s life developed in unexpected ways within the Swedish royal household. He was educated according to the intellectual ideals of Enlightenment philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who believed children should be encouraged to grow freely and develop independent thought. Unlike most individuals of enslaved origin during that period, Badin was given access to education, learned to read and write fluently, and later served in multiple roles within the royal court, including chamberlain, civil servant and dance instructor.

His writings provide a rare first-person account of identity formation within elite European society at a time when racial difference was often exoticised or marginalised. Through diaries, letters and an autobiography, Badin documented everyday court life, intellectual interests and reflections on his social position, creating an invaluable archive for scholars studying early Black European history.

The new exhibition, titled Badin – Beyond Surface and Mask, is being presented at the Nationalmuseum, where Badin’s surviving writings are displayed together for the first time. The exhibition aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of his life beyond stereotypical portrayals that have historically reduced him to a symbolic or decorative figure within Swedish cultural memory.

A central feature of the exhibition is a newly commissioned film by Salad Hilowle, an Afro-Swedish visual artist who has devoted much of his artistic practice to exploring Badin’s story. Hilowle’s film Maroonen (The Marooned) draws inspiration directly from Badin’s own words, imagining the historical figure addressing modern audiences about his experiences navigating European society as a Black intellectual during the Enlightenment period.

Hilowle has expressed concern that Badin has frequently appeared in Swedish cultural works primarily as an image rather than as a thinker and writer. His presence can be found in fictionalised form in works such as August Strindberg’s 1902 play Gustav III, where depictions often reflected racial stereotypes common in earlier artistic traditions. The exhibition seeks to challenge these portrayals by foregrounding Badin’s own voice and intellectual contributions.

The film incorporates music and operatic performance to bring Badin’s writings to life. One passage from his texts includes the words “I as one of the Blacks,” which Hilowle presents through a powerful vocal performance designed to encourage audiences to reflect on identity, representation and historical memory. The artistic approach aims to emphasise both the humanity and emotional complexity of Badin’s lived experience.

Curator Åsa Bharathi Larsson describes Badin’s position in the royal court as uniquely situated between privilege and marginalisation. Although he was granted education and status, his life was still shaped by the racial hierarchies and colonial ideologies of the period. Researchers note that very few individuals of African origin lived in Sweden between the early 18th and early 19th centuries, and even fewer left written records. Badin’s archive therefore represents an exceptional historical resource.

His extensive personal library and written reflections demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a desire to document his own existence within European society. Through these writings, historians argue, Badin effectively preserved his voice for future generations, ensuring that his perspective would not be entirely erased from historical narratives.

The exhibition also explores how performance and identity may have served as survival strategies within the rigid structure of court life. Scholars suggest that Badin’s nickname, derived from the French word for joker or trickster, may have functioned as a protective social role allowing him to navigate expectations while maintaining intellectual independence. His diaries reveal both humour and introspection, suggesting a deeply thoughtful individual negotiating complex cultural boundaries.

By bringing together archival material, artistic interpretation and academic research, the exhibition represents an important step in expanding public understanding of Black European history. It highlights how individual stories can challenge dominant historical narratives and encourage broader reflection on identity, memory and representation.

Hilowle, who has previously created works inspired by Badin and plans future projects exploring his legacy, emphasises the emotional depth of the diarist’s story. He suggests that behind the public persona existed a sensitive individual whose resilience required significant personal strength. The exhibition therefore not only restores visibility to a largely overlooked historical figure but also invites contemporary audiences to consider how historical narratives are shaped and who is given the opportunity to speak within them.

As cultural institutions across Europe continue to reassess historical collections and broaden representation, the rediscovery of figures such as Badin offers an opportunity to enrich understanding of the continent’s diverse past. His writings stand as testimony to both the constraints and possibilities faced by individuals navigating identity and belonging in early modern Europe.