An Aged Man in his Winter Garment - Theodor de Bry

A detailed 1590 copperplate engraving by Theodor de Bry depicting a Secotan man in traditional winter attire, set against a fortified village.

This copperplate engraving by Theodor de Bry originates from the seminal work, 'America', published in 1590. The image depicts a Secotan man from the coastal regions of present-day North Carolina. De Bry based this print upon the original watercolour observations made by John White during the 1585 Roanoke expedition. The figure stands in the foreground, draped in a heavy, fringed winter cloak, while the background provides a detailed view of a fortified village surrounded by agricultural fields.

The composition employs a distinct layering technique, common to late sixteenth-century European printmaking. The subject is rendered with a focus on anatomical proportion and textile texture, reflecting the European desire to document the appearance of indigenous peoples encountered in the New World. The village in the background, enclosed by a circular palisade, offers a glimpse into the settlement patterns of the Secotan people, including the arrangement of their dwellings and the systematic layout of their crops.

As an engraver, de Bry was instrumental in shaping European perceptions of the Americas. His work often prioritised clarity and narrative detail, ensuring that the visual information remained accessible to his audience. The print is marked with his initials, T.B., at the base, identifying it as part of his extensive collection of travel narratives. This piece provides a window into the intersection of early colonial exploration and the European tradition of ethnographic documentation. It remains a primary source for historians studying the cultural exchanges of the late sixteenth century, capturing a specific moment of contact through the lens of Renaissance printmaking techniques.