Allegory of America, from the Four Continents 1660 - 1700

Godfried Maes made this drawing, "Allegory of America," around 1670, using pen and brown ink, with gray wash, on paper. The drawing embodies a European perspective on a distant land, rendered through the controlled lines of the artist's hand. Maes employed traditional drawing techniques to represent the exotic "America" that he likely never experienced. Note the contrast between the sharp precision of the lines and the more diluted areas of gray wash that serve to model and give a sense of depth. The ink, made with tannins and iron salts, would have required meticulous preparation, and its application demanded skilled draftsmanship. The imagery of Indigenous peoples, parrots, and alligators, reflect the European imagination of the Americas as untamed and abundant. The drawing embodies the complexities of the colonial era, hinting at issues of labor, trade, and cultural exchange. By considering the materials and methods employed by Maes, we can better understand the cultural values and assumptions embedded within this drawing.