De schepen in de baai van Concepción, 1615 1617 - 1646

This is a 1615 anonymous rendering of ships in the bay of Concepción made with etching. What strikes you first is probably the intricate detail and overall composition. The bay, cradled by mountainous terrain, dominates the scene, yet the ships and land are equally represented. The structure of this image functions as a cartographic record, but also a symbolic representation of power. Consider the semiotics at play: the ships are a signifier of European presence and naval power, while the landscape is a symbol of the newly 'discovered' world. The linear precision used to depict the waves and mountains creates a sense of order, imposing a European sense of control onto the landscape. But look closely: the drawing style destabilizes any clear distinction between objective documentation and subjective interpretation. The map is not just a factual record, but a cultural artefact that encapsulates complex dynamics of exploration, colonization, and representation. It's a negotiation of space, power, and perspective that we continue to interpret today.