The Tupinambá’s Treatment of Prisoners of War c. 1630

This anonymous 17th-century painting, *The Tupinambá’s Treatment of Prisoners of War*, depicts a scene of ritual violence by the Tupinambá indigenous people of Brazil. The painting, part of a series about the Tupinambá, is a vivid example of European fascination with the “exotic” cultures of the Americas during the Age of Exploration. The work’s historical accuracy is debated, but it captures the visual impact of the Tupinambá’s practices, which were often misrepresented in European accounts. The painting’s graphic imagery and focus on the physical treatment of prisoners reveal the anxieties and power dynamics present in the encounter between Europe and the Americas.