The Imperial Troops Bringing Civilization to the Indians, from The Victories of Emperor Charles, plate 6 1555

This engraving from 1555, by the Dutch artist Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert, is part of a series called "The Victories of Emperor Charles." The image encapsulates the European attitude towards newly encountered cultures. The left side depicts cannibalism, meant to represent the ‘uncivilized’ state of the Indigenous people of the Americas. On the right, we see European ships arriving, bringing order and civility. This print reflects the cultural biases of 16th-century Europe, particularly the concept of the "noble savage" and the justification for colonization through the imposition of European norms. The visual codes here – light versus dark, order versus chaos – reinforce the idea of European superiority. To fully understand this image, we can look into the history of European exploration and colonization, and also, consider the role of the printing press in disseminating such views. This artwork serves as a potent reminder of the cultural narratives that shaped our understanding of the world.