About this sheet
Timbuktu Woman Costume Print – Antique Hand-Colored Lithograph, 1854
This antique hand-colored lithograph, published in 1854 in Album des Voyages Anciens et Modernes by Martial Ardant Frères, shows a woman from Timbuktu, dressed in elaborate attire. The figure stands with dignity, holding a fan of green and pink feathers, her costume marked by vivid colors and rich ornamentation.
She wears a yellow-trimmed blue bodice over a green chemise, with wide white sleeves and a striped red-and-white waistband. Draped around her waist is a voluminous red cloth with dark stripes, falling in dramatic folds. Beneath it, lavender trousers trimmed with yellow peek out, and she wears pointed slippers. On her head sits an ornate headdress resembling a tall woven cap, highlighted with yellow and blue. Jewelry, including a red bead necklace and matching earrings, completes her distinguished appearance.
Timbuktu, located in present-day Mali, was for centuries a legendary center of trade, learning, and culture in West Africa. In the 19th century, however, it was also a place of mystery for Europeans, largely closed to outside visitors. Prints such as this one, while often romanticized, sought to illustrate the grandeur and uniqueness of African urban cultures. The woman’s costume, rich in color and detail, reflects both the prestige of Timbuktu as a cultural hub and the European fascination with Africa’s diversity.
For 19th-century readers, this image offered a glimpse into a city that symbolized the exotic and inaccessible. Today, it provides both decorative appeal and historical insight, showing how Timbuktu and its people were represented in European illustrated works. The hand coloring remains particularly vibrant, with the red drapery and feather fan providing striking highlights.
Condition report: Light marginal foxing and mild toning, consistent with age. Image clean with strong, fresh colors. Plate mark visible. Paper stable with wide margins intact.
Framing tips: A black or ebony frame with a cream mat will emphasize the rich red tones of the drapery, while a gilt frame with a green mat will highlight the jewel-like details of the fan and headdress.
