Cartouche met twee kariatiden 1570

This is an engraving of a cartouche made in 1570 by an anonymous artist, the print was found in the Netherlands. Its Latin inscription, “Africa Tabula Nova,” introduces a new map of Africa. The print demonstrates the complex interplay between classical learning and early modern cartography. The title references ancient Greek and Roman names for the continent, “Africam Graeci Libyam App.”, reflecting the enduring influence of classical sources on European knowledge. The cartouche, with its stylized female figures, or caryatids, framing the text, evokes classical architectural motifs, further linking the map to a tradition of scholarship and empire. Prints like these were not neutral conveyors of geographic information, but powerful tools in shaping perceptions of Africa and its people. By studying the visual codes and textual references within it, and consulting historical maps and texts, we can better understand its role in the history of European expansion.