Art, Myth & Old Masters · 18th century
€ 680
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Excellent condition, especially considering its age of over 200 years. This is not a reproduction but an original engraving. Study the image carefully.
Etching and engraving entitled 'A Grandee of Circassia arrayed with his full accoutrements and a Circassian of the lower class, in his shaggy cloak, called Burki'. Lettered 'Geissler delt. Grainger sculp.'.
This etching, crafted around 1800 by the artist Geissler and engraved by Grainger, presents a striking depiction of a Circassian noble, known as a Grandee, in full traditional attire and a commoner dressed in a shaggy cloak called a Burki. The detailed illustration contrasts the societal ranks within Circassia through the lens of attire, capturing the grandeur of a high-ranking individual alongside the simplicity of lower-class garb. This work offers a window into the cultural and social stratifications of early 19th-century Circassia.
The individuals depicted in the engraving are from Circassia, a region in the Caucasus. The term "Circassian" typically refers to the indigenous peoples of this area, which include various tribes such as the Adyghe. The grandee would likely belong to one of the noble tribes, while the man in the burki, a lower-class garment, would be from a common tribe within the Circassian ethnic group.
