Jaques Kuyper, Residents of Quito, Hand-Colored Print, 1805

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Residents of Quito, Ecuador – Antique Hand-Colored Ethnographic Print c.1805 This engaging and finely hand-colored ethnographic print titled “Inwoners van … Read more Residents of Quito, Ecuador – Antique Hand-Colored Ethnographic Print c.1805 This engaging and finely hand-colored ethnographic print titled “Inwoners van Quito” (“Residents of Quito”) depicts Indigenous people from the region of Quito, in present-day Ecuador. The work was published in Amsterdam around 1805 as part of the important Dutch anthropological series “De Mensch, zoo als hij voorkomt op den bekenden aardbol” (“Humankind as Found on the Known Globe”), written by Martinus Stuart and illustrated by Jaques Kuyper. The composition presents two figures walking barefoot along a mountain road, one carrying a child on her back and the other holding a woven basket. Their clothing is rendered with careful drapery and texture, while the expansive Andean landscape in the background includes cultivated fields and a village nestled into the hills. The hand-applied color remains soft yet vivid, particularly in the flesh tones and the rich green landscape. This series is one of the most ambitious early 19th-century Dutch attempts to represent world cultures based on travel literature and accounts from global exploration. Although reflecting the European worldview of its time, these plates now serve as valuable visual records of traditional clothing and daily life before major cultural changes of the 19th and 20th centuries. A visually appealing and historically significant print, perfect for collectors interested in South American heritage, early anthropology, and travel history. Also a strong decorative piece for refined interior settings thanks to its warm palette and expressive human focus. Condition: Very good for age. Clean sheet with wide margins. Minor age toning and a few small faint spots in the blank margins only. Strong impression and original hand-coloring. Framing Tips: A warm off-white or pale beige museum mat with a dark wood or natural oak frame will complement the earthy tones. A float mount to reveal the plate mark and margins is recommended. Technique: Hand-colored copper engraving Maker: Jaques Kuyper (del.), engraved by Portman Publisher: Johannes Allart, Amsterdam, c.1805 Publication: De Mensch, zoo als hij voorkomt op den bekenden aardbol See less