Land Discovered by Columbus c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Land Discovered by Columbus" by Edward Goodall, housed here at Harvard. It's a small, rather somber print of a ship at night. What symbolic weight might this image carry? Curator: The ship, under the soft moonlight, becomes a vessel of cultural projection. It signifies not just discovery, but also the beginning of a complex and often traumatic cultural exchange. The flag, barely visible, hints at the imposition of a new order. How do you feel about the flag's placement at the top of the ship? Editor: It feels…almost like a warning. An assertion of power? Curator: Precisely. It marks the beginning of a legacy, one still deeply felt. By looking at this one ship, we are forced to see not a singular moment of triumph, but the start of a new world order. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure; the layers of symbolism are part of its lasting impact.