The statue bears the signature of Thomas Vinçotte and the name of the Compagnie des Bronzes de Bruxelles, while the pedestal displays the name of François Malfait, as well as the date of construction.

[4] On the back, a small bronze plaque (approximately 20 by 15 cm (7.9 by 5.9 in)) reads: Le cuivre et l'étain de cette statue proviennent du Congo Belge.

Ils ont été fournis gracieusement par l'Union Minière du Haut-Katanga (The copper and tin of this statue come from the Belgian Congo.

[4] Since the 21st century, the statue has aroused many controversies as to its presence in the centre of Brussels since the figure of Leopold II is no longer as admired and respected as at the time of its construction.

Indeed, it is today mainly associated with Belgian colonial history and the Congo Free State, a territory over which Leopold exercised de facto sovereignty from 1885 to 1908.