Offerrituelen bij oorspronkelijke bewoners van Florida 1721

This print, made by Bernard Picart around the turn of the 18th century, is an engraving on paper, a process involving meticulous carving into a metal plate, inking, and then printing. The image shows the artist’s interpretation of "offerrituelen" or sacrificial rituals, as performed by the Indigenous people of Florida. As an engraving, the image is itself the product of cultural exchange and a particular kind of labor. The fine lines and careful cross-hatching, all achieved through the engraver’s focused effort, give the scene an ethnographic quality, despite being twice removed from the actual subject. It’s important to remember that this print, and others like it, played a key role in shaping European perceptions of the Americas. These images were not neutral documents; they actively constructed a vision of the New World. Picart never visited Florida himself, yet through the skilled craft of engraving, he helped solidify Europe’s understanding – or misunderstanding – of its people and practices.