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by Anne M. DeLong

Establishment of a human abattoir

These images, all done by Theodor de Bry, offer conflicting interpretations that propagandize Native Americans in opposing ways. The first six depict Native Americans as victims of Spanish cruelties.

The last two de Bry images present contrary propaganda of Native American resistance and retaliation. In both cases, however, there is a suggestion that Native brutality against the Spaniards is motivated either by justifiable curiosity (What kind of beings are these strange, brutal invaders? Do they bleed, drown, die, as we do?) or by just retribution (Let us fill you up with the gold you desire so much...).