Pocahontas is the daughter of Powhatan who became an intermediary between the English colonist and her father, who the chief of their tribe. In 1616, Simon van de Passe did the first portrait of Pocahontas in England. The engraving is the only visual depiction of Pocahontas during her lifetime, other portraits of her were created after she had passed away (Robertson 554). Pocahontas ended up in England when she was captured by the English and converted to Christianity. Soon after she meet her husband John Rolfe where they traveled back to England. The engraving was created as a promotional campaign for English colonization (Robertson 556). Pocahontas essentially was a “demonstration of the effective process of colonization (Robertson 569).
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Pocahontas does look uncomfortable and out of place wearing the English clothing. Pocahontas in the painting had on a beaver hat, embroidered velvet mantle, and an ostrich feather fan (Horwitz 1). This clothing is typical of upper class wealthy women, which Pocahontas is not. Her husband John Rolfe cultivated tobacco, and made it an export crop for the colony (Robertson 567). He had money but they would not have been able to afford such lavish clothing for Pocahontas to wear. By just glancing at the painting you can tell the woman is not from English decent. Horwitz goes on to talk about her high cheekbones and almond shaped eyes that gives away that she isn’t from London, and must be an Indian. When picturing Pocahontas one doesn’t typically think about her dressed in the finest English attire. The Powhatans’ clothing consisted of a fringed doeskin apron (Robertson 568). If the engraving would have been made in Pocahontas’ native clothing of animal skin and marketed to the English that way, it would not have held the same effect. This would not have showed that the Native Indians were accommodating to the English presence, or that they were willing to convert and be accepting of the English culture, and religion. People still living in England may have saw the Colonies as a hostile environment still. This would result in less people wanting to leave England and travel to the
Pocahontas does look uncomfortable and out of place wearing the English clothing. Pocahontas in the painting had on a beaver hat, embroidered velvet mantle, and an ostrich feather fan (Horwitz 1). This clothing is typical of upper class wealthy women, which Pocahontas is not. Her husband John Rolfe cultivated tobacco, and made it an export crop for the colony (Robertson 567). He had money but they would not have been able to afford such lavish clothing for Pocahontas to wear. By just glancing at the painting you can tell the woman is not from English decent. Horwitz goes on to talk about her high cheekbones and almond shaped eyes that gives away that she isn’t from London, and must be an Indian. When picturing Pocahontas one doesn’t typically think about her dressed in the finest English attire. The Powhatans’ clothing consisted of a fringed doeskin apron (Robertson 568). If the engraving would have been made in Pocahontas’ native clothing of animal skin and marketed to the English that way, it would not have held the same effect. This would not have showed that the Native Indians were accommodating to the English presence, or that they were willing to convert and be accepting of the English culture, and religion. People still living in England may have saw the Colonies as a hostile environment still. This would result in less people wanting to leave England and travel to the