Gezicht op Misithra after 1687

This is an engraving of Misithra by Jan Griffier, made sometime between 1687 and 1718. It depicts the city in Greece, also known as Mistras, which had been captured by the Venetians in 1687. Engravings like this one served a vital function in early modern Europe. They brought news and images of distant lands to a curious public. The text at the bottom in both Dutch and Italian highlights Venice’s military victory. Griffier probably never visited Greece, but he was able to create this image based on sketches and descriptions. Note that this artwork is not an unbiased depiction of Greece, but an image shaped by the cultural and political interests of the Dutch Republic and the Venetian Empire. Historians use sources like letters, diaries, and political pamphlets to better understand how Griffier’s contemporaries viewed the world. By studying such images, we can reveal the complex relationship between art, power, and knowledge in a globalizing world.