The tower of the palace, Palenque before 1880

This is a drawing of the tower of the palace, Palenque, made by an anonymous artist. It captures a moment in the exploration and documentation of ancient Mesoamerican sites. This image reflects a colonial gaze, framing indigenous architecture as ruins, ripe for Western interpretation and claiming. The emphasis on decay and the romantic depiction of overgrown structures subtly implies a narrative of civilization lost, ready to be rediscovered by European eyes. The drawing invites us to consider the power dynamics inherent in archaeological exploration. The identity of the artist as an outsider shapes what and how they chose to represent. It serves as a reminder of how cultural narratives are constructed and whose voices are privileged in the telling. Think about how this representation might differ from one created by someone from the indigenous community, someone who holds a different relationship to this tower and its history.