Fashion & Costume · 19th century
€ 190
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Hand-colored print with light age toning and scattered foxing. Small marginal stains and minor edge wear. Lower left margin with a small edge loss not affecting the image. Overall well preserved.
Prince William Sound Alaska Indigenous Family, Antique Costume Print
This attractive hand-colored costume print depicts the inhabitants of Prince William Sound in Alaska, presented as a family group against a mountainous northern landscape. The Dutch title beneath the image, "Bewooners van de Prins Willems-Baai," translates as "Inhabitants of Prince William Sound," referring to the large inlet on the southern coast of Alaska first named by Captain George Vancouver in 1794.
The scene shows a standing hunter dressed in heavy fur garments and carrying a spear, accompanied by a seated woman and child. The detailed clothing, tools, and domestic objects were intended to illustrate the appearance and customs of the indigenous peoples encountered by European explorers along the North Pacific coast during the late eighteenth century. The dramatic snow-covered mountains in the background evoke the rugged environment of coastal Alaska and the Gulf of Alaska.
The print was drawn by J. Kuyper and engraved by L. Portman, forming part of a larger series illustrating the peoples and cultures encountered during the great voyages of exploration. Such images were highly sought after by European audiences eager to learn about distant lands and indigenous societies newly described through travel accounts and scientific expeditions.
Today the print serves as both an appealing ethnographic image and an important historical document reflecting European interest in the peoples of the North Pacific. Its combination of costume, landscape, exploration history, and hand coloring makes it particularly desirable for collectors of Alaska, Pacific Northwest, indigenous history, and early nineteenth-century travel literature.
Keywords: Prince William Sound, Alaska, Gulf of Alaska, Pacific Northwest, indigenous peoples, Alaska Native, ethnographic print, exploration history, Captain Vancouver, North Pacific, fur trade, Native costume, Arctic culture, Russian America, J. Kuyper, L. Portman, hand-colored engraving, travel illustration, Alaska history, maritime exploration.
Special note: This is an original antique print, not a reproduction. All items we offer are authentic period works of art over 100 years old. The print is sold unframed; any framed images are shown for presentation and interior inspiration only and may not always be on scale with the original.
Condition Report
Hand-colored print with light age toning and scattered foxing. Small marginal stains and minor edge wear. Lower left margin with a small edge loss not affecting the image. Overall well preserved.
Framing Tips
This print works beautifully in a dark walnut, ebonized, or lightly gilded frame with a double ivory museum mat. The subtle colors and northern landscape make it particularly suitable for studies, libraries, mountain homes, and natural-history interiors.
Technique: Hand-colored engraving
Maker: J. Kuyper (designer) and L. Portman (engraver), Netherlands, early 19th century
