The Discovery of the Mississippi 1876

Editor: This is "The Discovery of the Mississippi" created in 1876 by Currier and Ives, a lithograph print. It's fascinating how a single image tries to capture such a complex historical event. I'm immediately struck by the visual dominance of the Europeans and the very passive role afforded to the Native American figure included. What’s your interpretation? Curator: This print is less a depiction of "discovery" and more a statement about cultural power, and who has the power to write, or in this case, illustrate history. Note how it monumentalizes De Soto’s expedition as heroic, a common trope in 19th-century American art meant to justify westward expansion. Who do you think this print was aimed toward? Editor: Probably white Americans. It almost feels like propaganda to validate manifest destiny? Curator: Precisely. Lithographs like these were mass-produced and distributed widely. This isn't just about recording a historical event; it's about shaping public perception and solidifying a specific narrative that conveniently ignores or diminishes the indigenous populations already present. Consider how the clergy are depicted, offering blessings as if legitimizing the colonization. Editor: That's disturbing. I hadn’t noticed the priests until you pointed them out, now I'm wondering how else it influences perception. It also almost romanticizes conquest. Curator: Precisely. The medium itself—a mass-produced print—speaks volumes about its intent to disseminate a particular viewpoint and embed that into mainstream understanding of that historical context. It is as much an image as it is a tool of ideology. What do you think we can learn from examining these historical depictions today? Editor: I think we can unpack how power is exercised in shaping public opinion, how it glosses over problematic elements, and appreciate the power of visual media. I will never view art produced at the time in quite the same way again. Curator: Exactly. Recognizing the embedded power dynamics allows us to question those narratives and critically examine the legacy of these historical moments.