Pérou, from the playing cards "Jeu de la Géographie" 1644

This is "Pérou", a playing card made by Stefano della Bella in the 17th century, part of a series titled "Jeu de la Géographie". During this era, Europe's fascination with and exploitation of the Americas was burgeoning. The card depicts a figure on horseback, meant to represent the region of Peru. But this representation comes through a European lens, filtered by colonial desires and understandings. The text describes Peru as the "richest province in the world" because of its gold and silver, reducing the land and its people to commodities. Consider the emotional weight of such a depiction. On one hand, there's the allure of wealth and adventure for the European viewer. On the other, there's the erasure of Indigenous identities and the violent history of extraction and conquest. The card becomes a complex site where desire, power, and representation collide.