Marine Life · 17th century
€ 240
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Laid paper with age toning, light edge wear, and minor tears; fine early impression with clear plate mark visible.
Original 17th-century Dutch engraving from Itinerario by Jan Huygen van Linschoten, published in Amsterdam by Cornelis Claesz around 1598–1601. The image, titled “Maniere van te visschen,” illustrates an early depiction of tropical fishing practices observed during Dutch voyages to the East Indies. Figures in small canoes and onshore are shown hauling nets and traps baited with palm leaves, using methods adapted to shallow waters.
This engraving is one of the earliest printed European images of indigenous fishing in the Indian Ocean or Indonesian archipelago. It forms part of the same series as the famous “King of Bali” and “Balinese Festival” engravings, all central to Linschoten’s pioneering illustrated travel narrative.
A vivid ethnographic image showing how the first Dutch explorers interpreted the maritime world they encountered.
Condition:
Laid paper with age toning, light edge wear, and minor tears; fine early impression with clear plate mark visible.
Framing tips:
Ideal for float mounting in a teak or dark walnut frame with a warm off-white mat. For scholarly display, a double-glass frame allows viewing of the text verso.
Technique: Copperplate engraving with letterpress text on laid paper
Maker: After Jan Huygen van Linschoten, Amsterdam, c.1601
