The text examines the role of images and visual cultures in the Christianization of the Americas during the 16th and 17th centuries, with a focus on the Viceroyalty of Peru. It highlights how indigenous media and visual practices intersected with European religious imagery, leading to unique forms of visual representation. The article discusses the materiality and function of religious images – in particular paintings and sculptures – and how these were adapted by local communities in the colonial contexts. It challenges the binary of original versus copy and critiques the colonial power structures embedded in image production and usage. By exploring trans-cultural dynamics and epistemological ruptures, the study reveals the complex relationships between European missionaries, indigenous artists and actors, and local visual systems, emphasizing how these interactions shaped the visual and religious landscape of the Andean region.