Vermeer's Hat

Vermeer, a Dutch painter, was born in Delft in 1632 and died there in 1675. His work is far more famous now than when he was alive. One of his most notable paintings is Girl with a Pearl Earring. In Vermeer’s Hat, author Timothy Brook views Vermeer’s Paintings as Gateways to understanding the past and the wider world, showing viewers who care to look that viewing artwork is an active endeavor. For example, Brooks uses the paintings View of Delft and Officer and Laughing Girl to examine how trade, commodification, and colonial expansion shaped the world in this era. He argues that Vermeer’s depictions of seemingly domestic or local scenes subtly illustrate the influence of international trade and global dynamics on everyday life in the Netherlands.

Samuel Champlain, a French navigator and cartographer, helped establish trade alliances with Indigenous peoples in North America. His diplomatic efforts, particularly with the Algonquin and other tribes, highlight the delicate balance of trade, alliances, and conflict during the early days of European colonization. Champlain’s actions also led to the decimation of certain Indigenous populations, such as the Mohawk, underscoring the devastating impact of European expansion on the Americas.