Description
This fascinating lithograph captures a witty and revealing episode in the personality of Christopher Columbus, in which he managed to leave those who envied his daring feat speechless. Throughout his career, as is often the case with the greats, Columbus faced detractors who claimed that his discovery was nothing more than a simple feat.
One day, to prove that what seemed easy required ingenuity, he challenged his critics to balance an egg on its tip. While none of them could do it, Columbus, with a simple blow that straightened the shell, made it clear that the trick was knowing how to approach problems. ‘Nothing could be easier’, the audience commented, to which he replied confidently: “I don’t doubt it, for that is how I discovered the Indies”.
This episode, in addition to highlighting the navigator’s astuteness, reflects how those envious men were, in time, overcome by royal recognition. The monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, granted him more land and honours, prompting him to return to America, discover a new continent and culminate a career as brilliant as it was unforgettable.
An essential piece for collectors and history lovers, it immortalises not only the genius of an explorer, but also the triumph over disbelief and envy.
This post is also available in: Spanish