Drie verschillende voorbeelden van de lokale bevolking van de Straat Magellaan, het eiland Capul in de Filipijnen en Nieuw Spanje (Midden-Amerika), 1599-1600 1601 - 1646

This print, made around the turn of the 17th century by an anonymous artist, presents three depictions of indigenous people from different locales, rendered in ink on paper. The fine lines of the engraving capture the details of clothing, weaponry, and even tattoos, revealing the artist's focus on ethnographic documentation. Note the contrast between the active poses of the figures on the left and in the center, each holding a bow, and the more relaxed posture of the figure on the right. The printmaking process itself, involving skilled labor and the use of specialized tools, reflects the rise of print culture in early modern Europe and the growing interest in representing distant lands and their inhabitants. Consider the economic and political forces that drove the production and circulation of such images, as European powers expanded their reach across the globe. This artwork blurs the line between documentation and representation, raising questions about the power dynamics inherent in the act of depicting other cultures.