Huwelijksplechtigheid en naamceremonie van de Inca's 1723

Bernard Picart made this engraving of Inca marriage and naming ceremonies in the early 18th century. The image presents us with a fascinating depiction of Inca customs, yet it’s crucial to examine it within its historical context. Picart was a French artist working during a period of intense European fascination with the ‘New World’. The image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations of the time. Notice the classical architectural elements that are included. How do they relate to the representation of the Inca people? These details reflect the European tendency to interpret foreign cultures through a classical lens. This raises questions about the politics of imagery and the social conditions that shaped artistic production. To fully understand this engraving, one needs to look at historical accounts, travel narratives, and other visual representations of the Americas from the period. These can reveal the complex interplay between observation, imagination, and cultural bias that shaped European perceptions of the Inca civilization.