Antique print of Tupinamba Indians cutting up a corpse by De Bry (1617)

Description: Antique print of Tupinamba Indians cutting up a corpse. After the prisoner’s body had been cleaned and prepared for eating, it was painted white, then skinned. First the legs were cut off above the knees, then the arms. Each limb was detached and given to a different woman who had previously decorated herself with paint. Then, with the limbs, they would chase each other round the huts, which caused great amusement. Finally, the body was cut open down the spine and shared out, with the women taking the intestines. 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.