The Manner of Making their Boats 1590

Curator: This intriguing print, "The Manner of Making their Boats," was created by Theodor de Bry. Look at the intensity of the production of the boat. Editor: Yes! The image feels laborious; I can almost smell the burning wood. The focus is on the physicality of crafting the vessel. Curator: Exactly. De Bry highlights the process, using fire to hollow out the tree trunk. It speaks to ingenuity and the communal effort needed for such creation. Editor: It’s interesting how this print circulated, shaping European perceptions of indigenous technologies and labor. How were these images used and understood? Curator: That's key. The image serves as both document and projection, influencing European views of indigenous life and material culture. Editor: Fascinating how a simple boat-making scene carries layers of material processes and colonial narratives.