Voorstellingen van religieuze plechtigheden bij de Inca's 1723

Bernard Picart made this print, 'Representations of religious ceremonies among the Incas', sometime in the early 18th century, using an engraving technique. The labor-intensive process involves carefully incising lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing paper against it to transfer the image. Note how Picart's image reflects a Western European perspective on Inca rituals. The medium of engraving itself played a role in shaping this view; its reliance on line and shadow flattens the depicted scenes. Look at the way the figures are posed and rendered in linear form, which comes from an aesthetic deeply rooted in European artistic traditions rather than an authentic representation of Inca culture. The print was made during a time of expanding global trade and colonialism, which makes the work significant beyond the image. As engravings can be easily reproduced, this artwork could be distributed widely, shaping popular perception. By considering the materiality and historical context, we see how interpretations of other cultures can be mediated through artistic processes and materials.