Reproductie van een ontwerp van zes ornamenten before 1880

This undated reproduction of six ornament designs, by an anonymous artist, is printed on a page from a book. Each cartouche is embellished with botanical and figural elements, framing Latin inscriptions: territories in the Americas, such as, “Hispaniola Insula,” are featured alongside other locations. These cartouches were likely intended for maps, which served not only as navigational tools but also as powerful expressions of colonial ambition. The decision to include "America Meridionalis," or South America, underscores the growing European interest in, and claims over, this "New World." While the ornamental designs may appear aesthetically pleasing, we must also consider the historical context in which these maps were created. Who was included, and who was excluded? Whose stories were told, and whose were erased? In this way, the personal, emotional, and experiential dimensions of the piece are inextricably linked to the larger social and historical context of European colonialism and its impact on the Americas.