Antique Print of a Cleansing Ritual of Native Americans by De Bry (1617)

Description: Antique print showing a cleansing ritual of Native Americans (or American Indians). This print originates from 'America, Das ist, Erfindung und Offenbahrung der Newen Welt, deroselbigen Völcker Gestalt, Sitten, Gebräuch, Policey und Gottesdienst, in dreyßig vornemste Schifffahrten kürztlich unnd ordentlich zusammengefaßet und mit seinen Marginalien unnd Register erkläret'. 

Artists and Engravers: Johann Theodor de Bry (1561 - 1623) was born in Liege in 1561, the eldest son of the engraver and publisher Theodor de Bry. It was from his father that Johann learned his craft, producing both engravings and etchings. In 1588, the Lutheran De Bry family settled in Frankfurt am Main, a safe haven for Lutherans at this time of religious discord. Together with his father and brother (Johann Israel de Bry), Johann published two popular emblem books. He also produced engravings from celebrated contemporary painters.