Images of a Legend
POCAHONTAS
1616, Simon van de Passe
This engraving is the only known portrait of Pocahontas rendered
from life. During her stay in England, Dutch engraver Simon van de
Passe captured her likeness and recorded that she, like the artist
himself, was 21 years old. It was the first of many depictions of
Pocahontas intended to demonstrate that a Native American could
adopt the demeanor of a "civilized" European. The Virginia
Company—backers of the Jamestown settlement—likely
commissioned the engraving with this in mind, hoping to attract more
colonists and investors. The image also promotes the false
impression that she was a princess in the European sense; the
inscription describes her as the daughter of a mighty emperor, and
the ostrich feather in her hand is a symbol of royalty. But this
engraving offers a sound estimate of Pocahontas's true appearance.