Views of America
€ 180
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Very good condition with a crisp impression and excellent tonal contrast. Some light toning and faint foxing spots are visible in the margins but do not affect the image. The paper is strong with wide margins preserved.
This original steel engraving presents an early 19th-century view of Rio de Janeiro, one of the most important ports of South America. Titled “Rio Janeiro”, the print is based on a sketch made in 1824 by A. Schröder, a European traveler and artist, and drawn by C. N. Weiss. The engraving itself was executed by A. Kunike, a Viennese engraver and publisher, and issued in the 1830s when Brazil was of growing interest to European audiences.
The scene captures the bustling entrance to Rio’s harbor, with a sailing vessel leaning into the wind and a small rowboat navigating the waves. In the distance, the walled city with its fortifications, churches, and hilltop buildings stretches before the mountainous backdrop that defines Rio’s dramatic geography. The perspective emphasizes the vitality of maritime trade and the strategic importance of Rio de Janeiro during this era, just a few years after Brazil’s declaration of independence from Portugal in 1822.
Engravings such as this one provided Europeans with some of their first visual impressions of Brazil’s rapidly developing capital. They remain historically valuable records of urban growth, coastal defenses, and seafaring life in the early 19th century. Collectors of Braziliana and South American views particularly prize such prints for their detail and rarity.
Condition report:
Very good condition with a crisp impression and excellent tonal contrast. Some light toning and faint foxing spots are visible in the margins but do not affect the image. The paper is strong with wide margins preserved.
Framing tips:
This engraving would frame elegantly in a dark wood or ebonized frame with a light ivory or pale blue mount, highlighting the maritime theme. For added emphasis on the city view, a slightly larger mat window may enhance its presence on the wall.
Technique: Steel engraving on paper
Maker: Drawn by C. N. Weiss after A. Schröder (1824); engraved by A. Kunike, Vienna, c.1830s
