Context The early 20th century in Europe was marked by the First World War, colonialism and the rise of nationalism, which in France manifested itself in heightened jingoism. The presence of soldiers from the colonies on French soil after the war created tensions among the resident population. And in the world of sport, the 1920s saw African American athletes excel in several disciplines. It was in this context that the 1924 Olympic Games were held in Paris. This general situation and the political and racial ideologies that stemmed from it were reflected in the sports cartoons drawn by Marcel Arnac, an illustrator and comic strip pioneer, for Galeries Lafayette. In this stylised childish universe, there are numerous stereotypical representations of non-European athletes, in terms of their physical appearance, clothing, names and mediocre sporting performances. The French athletes are not always portrayed in a favourable light, either. But while it is sometimes chance or luck that leads them to victory, they always remain superior to their opponents.   Description I. 100m race French runner Totote wins the race thanks to her dog, Rikiki, pulling her towards the finish line. The other competitors are depicted running gormlessly, and each is given stereotyped physical features associated with their place of origin: round eyes, ginger hair, yellow skin or thick lips.