Cut XV c. 16th century

Curator: This print, titled "Cut XV," is an unsigned work from an unknown hand, part of a series of images held here at the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes you first about it? Editor: The cherubic figures blowing from the clouds scattered around the circular earth create a dynamic yet serene impression. It feels symbolic and allegorical rather than strictly cartographic. Curator: Indeed. The winds relate to the practice of hunting as implied by the title at the top, "Della Caccia," of the hunt. The placement of "Nueva Hispania" reflects colonial perspectives, and the "uninhabitable zone" at the bottom reveals cultural assumptions. Editor: The cherubic winds are very evocative, I wonder how the wind imagery and their names, like "Africo Libeccio", were understood in different eras and cultures. Curator: That's a great entry point into its reception. Understanding this image today demands a critical interrogation of its historical biases. Editor: It certainly encourages reflection on how we map the world, both literally and ideologically.