De vloot bij Acapulco, 1615 1617 - 1646

This etching, "De vloot bij Acapulco, 1615," was created in 1615 by an anonymous artist. It depicts a fleet near Acapulco and offers a glimpse into the complex interactions between Europe and the Americas in the early 17th century. The scene is rife with activity as ships arrive and people move about the shore. The depiction also suggests a sense of colonial enterprise and resource extraction. The inclusion of a sea monster adds an element of the fantastic, typical of the era’s understanding, or lack thereof, of the natural world, which may have been used to inspire wonder and also signal danger. What isn't shown are the human costs of this exchange, the exploitation of indigenous populations, and the profound impact of colonization on the cultural landscape. "De vloot bij Acapulco, 1615" ultimately serves as a reminder of the narratives that are often left out of historical accounts, urging us to consider the full scope of human experience.