Inwoners van Callao, 1726 1726

Carel Allard created this print of the Inhabitants of Callao in 1726, although he had already passed away. It offers a glimpse into the Dutch perception of South America during a period of burgeoning global trade. The print depicts two figures, presumably indigenous inhabitants of Callao, a port city in present-day Peru. They are adorned with feathered headdresses and distinctive garments, and posed in the foreground against a backdrop of ships and the bustling harbor. Allard’s image reflects the intersection of cultures and economies during the height of Dutch maritime power, but it also gives us insight into the way that Dutch artists imagined other cultures, based on travelers’ descriptions and other second-hand sources. By examining sources from the period, such as travelogues, commercial records, and ethnographic studies, we can gain a deeper understanding of the attitudes, assumptions, and power dynamics that shaped the encounter between Europe and the Americas. Through this kind of contextual research, we are better able to understand the complex social structures of its time.