Their Manner of Fishing in Virginia - Theodor de Bry

A detailed 1590 copperplate engraving by Theodor de Bry, depicting indigenous fishing practices in coastal Virginia based on the observations of John White.

This copperplate engraving, published in 1590, originates from the first volume of Theodor de Bry's 'America' series. The work is based on original watercolour drawings by John White, who accompanied the 1585 expedition to the Roanoke colony. De Bry, a Flemish engraver, adapted White's observations for a European audience, creating a visual record of the Secotan people of coastal North Carolina.

The composition displays a high degree of detail regarding indigenous fishing technology. In the foreground, a dugout canoe contains three individuals, with a fire burning in the centre to provide light and heat. Two men use long spears to catch fish, while a third person tends the fire. The surrounding water is filled with various marine life, including rays, turtles, and crabs, rendered with a degree of artistic license to display the abundance of the region. In the background, large V-shaped weirs constructed from reeds are visible, demonstrating the sophisticated communal fishing methods employed by the local population.

De Bry's engraving style is characterised by precise, fine lines and a systematic approach to shading. The work functions as an early example of ethnographic documentation, though it is filtered through the aesthetic conventions of late sixteenth-century European printmaking. The figures are depicted with classical proportions, reflecting the artistic training of the period. This print provides a window into the historical encounter between European explorers and the indigenous cultures of the Americas, capturing both the technical ingenuity of the Secotan people and the curiosity of the colonial observers who sought to catalogue the natural resources of the New World.