L'Amerique, from the Almanach iconologique 1760 - 1770

Curator: Nicolas de Launay’s engraving, "L'Amerique," made sometime between 1760 and 1770, offers an allegorical depiction of America, fitting for its inclusion in the "Almanach iconologique." Editor: The textures are incredible given the medium. It looks so fragile, this rendering of exploitation and, dare I say, conquest. There’s a tension between delicacy and… brutality that's striking. Curator: Precisely. The engraving adheres to a distinct visual language, personifying America as a semi-nude woman. Consider the bow and quiver: a clear reference to the New World’s indigenous populations and their perceived ‘untamed’ nature. Editor: And see the presumed Indigenous man's severed head, with the calumet, right below her feet. This points to the literal dispossession that fed mercantilist aspirations. The composition itself becomes a political statement. Was De Launay critiquing or celebrating? Curator: Perhaps both? The allegorical tradition often served dual purposes: to idealize and, implicitly, to justify. The putti playing behind the central figure might represent the "civilizing" influence, juxtaposed against the more primitive symbols. Editor: The materials used, the very act of reproducing this image for widespread distribution, speaks to the way Europe actively constructed and consumed the idea of America. Each impression is an act of further commodification. Curator: This brings up interesting points about cultural appropriation and the enduring power of symbols. Even now, such images inform our understanding—or misunderstanding—of history and identity. Editor: Absolutely. Looking at the physicality of this engraving forces me to reflect on the labor involved in its creation, and the systems that underpinned the demand for these exoticized representations of America. Curator: I agree. By delving into its visual grammar and contextual backdrop, the piece provides a layered perspective. Editor: Seeing how something relatively small, when reproduced, could circulate ideology is worth chewing on further.