1870 - 雕刻 – 德意志东非 - 43 cm (沒有保留價)

19th-Century Engraving – German Africa (Die Welt in Bildern)

Period: printed circa 1870–1890, 19th century.
Material: wood engraving on wove paper, with contemporary hand-coloring.
Dimensions: sheet approximately 430 x 330 mm.
Condition: excellent condition, with minor age-related wear consistent with its age.
Collection Number: 642

Description of the Scene:
The print is titled Die Welt in Bildern. Deutsch-Afrika and is composed of three broad horizontal panels. The engraving combines natural history imagery, ethnographic scenes, and military events within a single, clearly structured composition.

Upper Panel:
A savannah landscape populated by various animal species. On the left, wildebeest are depicted both resting and in motion. At the center stands an elephant in an elevated posture. On the right, a leopard attacks a group of antelope, emphasizing the drama and movement of the hunt. The landscape is open, with low vegetation and scattered trees, characteristic of an idealized representation of the African savannah.

Middle Panel:
A scene portraying the lives of indigenous inhabitants (identified as Herero). Figures are shown herding cattle and sheep, while giraffes and antelope appear in the background. Particular attention is given to livestock, clothing, and everyday utensils. The composition presents an orderly arrangement in which both people and animals play a central role.

Lower Panel:
A violent confrontation between German colonial troops (Schutztruppen) and indigenous warriors. The figures are armed with rifles and spears. Wounded individuals lie in the foreground, while an enclosure or settlement can be seen in the distance. The scene is dramatically staged, emphasizing movement, combat, and drifting smoke.

The line work is refined and carefully executed, with consistent cross-hatching used to render vegetation, animal hides, and textiles. The hand-coloring enhances the distinction between landscape, fauna, and human figures. Together, the three panels create a visual narrative in which nature, local populations, and colonial expansion are thematically interconnected.

From an iconographic perspective, the print reflects 19th-century European perceptions of Africa, combining exotic wildlife, ethnographic observation, and military presence within a single comprehensive tableau. The sheet belongs to the popular educational and geographical print series of the period.

This is a large-format print. Such large-format examples represent one of the most prestigious types of wood engravings of their era, produced for high-quality illustrated publications. The expansive sheet format allows for a richly detailed, multi-themed composition.

Artist’s Design:
The Munich-based studio Braun & Schneider was one of the leading centers for illustrated art and educational prints during the second half of the 19th century. Within the Die Welt in Bildern series, geographical and historical subjects were presented through clearly organized visual panels, emphasizing clarity, educational value, and technical precision.

Executed in Engraving by Master Engravers:
The studio employed specialized wood engravers who translated the original designs into finely carved woodblocks. The consistent line work, subtle shading, and even printing quality demonstrate a high level of craftsmanship. Design and execution form a coherent whole within the South German wood-engraving tradition of the 19th century.

Provenance:
This 19th-century engraving after Braun & Schneider was acquired in 2005 from the private collection of J. van Calker, Overijssel, the Netherlands. According to the collector, the work was obtained between 1994 and 1998 through Hessink’s Fine Art Auctioneers in Zwolle. Prior to that, the print formed part of an international private collection, with no further documented ownership history available.