Bilder Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) – Set of Two: Illustrations of the Customs and Peoples of India from the Cosmographia – Woodcut (c. 1550)

Beskrivning

This page features two woodcuts illustrating the customs and reported nature of the peoples of India, based on early European geographical accounts. The upper scene depicts figures in native dress, some with exaggerated or grotesque features believed to exist in remote lands, engaged in various activities. The lower scene illustrates a specific custom involving draped figures. The accompanying German text, titled "Of the Lands of India," describes the region's people and beliefs, offering a visual and textual report typical of sixteenth century global cosmography, blending factual reporting with folkloric representation.

Sebastian Münster was a highly influential German cosmographer, geographer, and Hebraist whose primary achievement was the publication of the Cosmographia, one of the first German-language encyclopedias describing the world. The work was immensely popular, providing readers with detailed woodcut illustrations of maps, city views, customs, and natural history, profoundly shaping European understanding of geography in the mid-sixteenth century.

Artist or Maker: Sebastian Münster

Dimensions: Approximately 36 cm x 23 cm

Medium: Woodcut

Date: c. 1550

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.