Allegory of America 1635 - 1683

Nicolaes Berchem created this ink drawing called 'Allegory of America.' The central figure, an indigenous woman adorned with feathers and armed with a bow and arrow, is surrounded by symbols of both abundance and subjugation. Note the plundered gold, the enslaved laborers, and even the defeated alligator beneath her feet. This reflects a European vision of America as both bountiful and ripe for conquest. Consider the motif of the indigenous woman, an echo of classical depictions of allegorical figures like 'Abundantia,' the Roman goddess of plenty. But here, that abundance is tainted by colonial exploitation. The bow and arrow is not merely a tool for hunting; it's a gesture of defiance, a silent challenge. It echoes, perhaps, the gestures of ancient warriors, a primordial struggle against invasion and oppression. The image resonates with a deep psychological tension, the subconscious guilt of conquest masked by the allure of the exotic. It is a symbol that persists, reappearing across centuries, each time colored by the shifting tides of history and the ever-present shadows of our collective memory.