Hawaiian Masked Man, 1777, Paper

Details

Description

Sandwich Islands Masked Man – Hawaiian Portrait, Captain Cook Voyage Engraving, c.1777 This striking ethnographic portrait depicts a masked man … Read more Sandwich Islands Masked Man – Hawaiian Portrait, Captain Cook Voyage Engraving, c.1777 This striking ethnographic portrait depicts a masked man from the Sandwich Islands (present-day Hawai‘i), shown wearing a ceremonial facial covering with pronounced eye apertures and elongated pendant elements extending below the chin. The image is one of the most iconic visual records produced following Captain James Cook’s third voyage to the Pacific and reflects early European attempts to document Hawaiian culture, ritual, and appearance. The engraving originates from the official accounts of Cook’s voyages, published in London in the late 18th century.

These works were based on drawings made by onboard artists and later translated into engravings for a European audience eager for visual insight into newly encountered societies. The Sandwich Islands held particular fascination, as Cook was the first European to record contact with Hawai‘i in 1778, shortly before his death there. The mask illustrated here is believed to be associated with ritual or ceremonial practices, possibly connected to performance, warfare, or religious observance. While the depiction is inevitably filtered through European artistic conventions, the image remains an important historical document and one of the earliest printed representations of Hawaiian material culture and identity. Portraits from Cook voyage publications are highly sought after by collectors of Pacific exploration, early Hawaiiana, and ethnographic prints. This plate stands out for its powerful, direct composition and its strong visual impact, making it equally suitable for a scholarly collection or a refined interior where historic works on paper are appreciated for both aesthetic and cultural significance.

Condition Good antique condition overall. Light age-related toning throughout, with some scattered spotting and surface wear. A faint horizontal crease is visible in the upper margin, and the lower margin shows slightly heavier toning, consistent with age. The image itself remains strong and well-defined, with clear engraved detail. Margins are present.

Framing tips This portrait benefits from a generous off-white or warm grey mat that allows the margins to breathe and emphasizes the depth of the engraving. A dark walnut, ebonized, or simple black frame enhances the dramatic presence of the image and works particularly well in both classic and contemporary interiors.

Technique: Copper engraving
Maker: After drawings from Captain James Cook’s voyages, engraved by W. Taylor, London, c.1777 See less