Architecture & Design · 18th century
€ 260
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good. Light soiling, mostly around the borders, due to age and handling. One inkt spot in the plate mark in the upper left corner. Study the image carefully.
This listing is an original antique engraving titled "The INSIDE of a HOUSE, in OONALASHKA." It shows an intimate scene inside a dwelling, presumably belonging to the indigenous people of Unalaska, an island that is part of the Aleutian chain in Alaska. The term "Oonalashka" is an archaic spelling of Unalaska, which reflects the naming conventions of the time when the engraving was made.
In this detailed interior view, we see various activities that depict daily life. There are multiple figures engaged in different tasks: some are sitting or lying down, possibly resting or sleeping, while others appear to be involved in preparing food or working with tools. The construction of the house is prominently featured, with the wooden beams of the roof and the items hung for storage or decoration. The attire of the individuals suggests the traditional dress of the Aleut people.
Given the scene and the date of publication on the bottom right, which appears to be "Oct'r 1, 1784," this engraving would have been made not long after the period of initial European contact with the native populations of the North Pacific region.
