Indfødte foran en palmehytte 1668

Christian Rothgiesser made this print titled 'Natives in Front of a Palm Hut', but when and where exactly remains uncertain. We can analyze the visual codes within the image, like the palm hut, to get a sense of the cultural context. This work is likely an exercise in European world-building, made in a period of increasing colonial expansion. The figures are generalized, with an emphasis on what the artist takes to be 'native' dress and customs. Consider the way the palm hut is represented, and the degree to which it conveys an idea of primitive life to a European audience. Studying objects traded between Europe and other parts of the world at this time, we might learn more about what Europeans were curious about and how they imagined other cultures. We can consider the ways in which institutions, like the print market, shaped the production and reception of images that reinforced Europe's colonial ambitions.