Ethnography · 19th century
€ 210
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Very good for age. Wide margins. Slight age toning and a few minor spots confined to blank margins only. Strong impression with bright original hand-coloring.
Mexican Indigenous People – Antique Hand-Colored Ethnographic Print c.1805
This richly hand-colored ethnographic print titled “Mexicanen” depicts Indigenous people from Mexico in a rural landscape. It was published in Amsterdam around 1805 as part of the Dutch anthropological series “De Mensch, zoo als hij voorkomt op den bekenden aardbol” (“Humankind as Found on the Known Globe”), written by Martinus Stuart and illustrated by Jaques Kuyper.
The composition shows a man and woman seated outdoors in conversation beside rice or grain fields stretching toward the mountains in the background. Their garments, jewelry, and hairstyle details express cultural identity, while tools and household objects scattered around them suggest daily life and agricultural activity. The hand-applied coloring is particularly vibrant in the fabric patterns, natural greenery, and the soft modeling of the figures.
Stuart & Kuyper’s publication was among the most ambitious early 19th-century Dutch efforts to portray global cultures based on exploration accounts and early anthropology. Today, these prints are appreciated both for their artistic quality and as historical records that document cultural appearances and traditions before the sweeping sociopolitical changes that followed.
This is an attractive and collectible piece with subject matter appealing to collectors interested in early depictions of Mesoamerica, Indigenous heritage, and ethnographic art.
Condition:
Very good for age. Wide margins. Slight age toning and a few minor spots confined to blank margins only. Strong impression with bright original hand-coloring.
Framing Tips:
A dark bronze or warm wood frame with a cream museum-quality mat will complement the earthy tones. A float mount to reveal the plate mark and margins is recommended.
Technique: Hand-colored copper engraving
Maker: Jaques Kuyper (del.), engraved by Portman
Publisher: Johannes Allart, Amsterdam, c.1805
Publication: De Mensch, zoo als hij voorkomt op den bekenden aardbol
