Gezicht op Panama 1685 - 1714

Thomas Doesburgh’s “Gezicht op Panama,” is an undated engraving that captures a moment rife with the complexities of colonial encounter. The scene depicts ships, symbols of European power, anchored just off the coast of Panama. This image isn't just a neutral depiction; it's a statement of presence, an assertion of control. What does it mean to claim a vista, to frame it, and then circulate it as an image? How does this act of representation participate in the larger project of colonization? The ships here are not merely vessels of trade but agents of cultural, economic, and, indeed, violent exchange. Consider the emotional weight of this encounter from the perspective of the Indigenous communities, their homeland now a spectacle of foreign interest. The image serves as a reminder of the power dynamics at play, and the profound impact on the lives and lands of those who were already there.