Omlijsting met een langwerpige cartouche met ronde zijkanten middenboven 1593

Theodor de Bry created this ornamental border, sometime in the late 16th century, using etching. During this period, the power and projection of European identity was disseminated through printed images. De Bry, a skilled engraver, had to flee his native land due to religious persecution. He eventually settled in Frankfurt, a center of the printing trade. His personal history undoubtedly influenced his artistic output, particularly his documentation of the customs and lifestyles of people from around the world. The border's design incorporates classical motifs alongside images of power and conquest. Figures, framed by dense foliage, evoke a sense of both abundance and control, hinting at the complex relationship between the colonizer and the colonized. It served as a frame for displaying texts or images, often perpetuating the era's dominant narratives. It's a reminder of how art can be both beautiful and deeply implicated in systems of power.