Amerika 1705 - 1775

"Amerika" is an engraving of 297 by 197mm, made by an anonymous artist. This print encapsulates Europe’s early perception of the Americas, during a period of intense colonial expansion. The visual vocabulary presents a juxtaposition of imagined wealth and subjugation. An Indigenous figure, adorned with feathers, extracts resources from the land. An elephant carries what is likely a European figure, and represents both exoticism and power. The text in both German and Latin speaks to the conquest of America, its riches, and the enslavement of its people. Consider that these representations were constructed at a distance, reflecting European desires and anxieties more than the realities of the American continent. The print serves as a potent reminder of the power dynamics inherent in representation, and the ways in which images can perpetuate exploitation and inequality. It offers a glimpse into the historical construction of cultural identities, the emotional toll of colonialism, and the complex relationships between power, knowledge, and representation.