Virginia, from the playing cards "Jeu de la Géographie" 1644

This is Stefano della Bella's "Virginia, from the playing cards 'Jeu de la Géographie'", dating back to the 17th century. The composition is strikingly simple; a lone figure dominates the upper half, while descriptive text fills the lower portion. Notice how the artist’s lines, rendered in etching, carefully define the contours of the figure. The figure, an allegorical representation of Virginia, is adorned with indigenous motifs, and stands with a bow, symbolizing both the land’s resources and its perceived wildness. This visual encoding is a semiotic gesture, reflecting the European understanding of newly 'discovered' territories. The contrast between the detailed rendering of the figure and the stark text below creates a visual hierarchy. It invites us to question the power dynamics inherent in representation and the act of naming itself. Does the text accurately describe the land, or does it impose a European narrative onto an existing reality? The artwork functions as a site where the aesthetics of representation intersect with the politics of exploration and colonization.