Cortés Arrives in Tenochtitlán In this portrayal of Cortés and his army arriving in the Mexican capital, Malinali stands at the front of the procession, serving as the Spaniards’ translator and intermediary with Montezuma (not pictured). Painted by a Mexican artist after the conquest, the work displays the choices the Mexica faced: accept the peaceful overtures of Cortés (doffing his hat) or face his battle-ready soldiers.

Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, France/Bridgeman Images.