Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6

Cayenne, French Guiana: Hand-Colored Engraving from La France Illustree, 1883

$76.68
$95.8520% Off
£57.08
£71.3620% Off
€64
€8020% Off
CA$105.03
CA$131.2920% Off
A$116.82
A$146.0320% Off
CHF 61
CHF 76.2520% Off
MX$1,421.58
MX$1,776.9820% Off
NOK 779.07
NOK 973.8320% Off
SEK 730.63
SEK 913.2820% Off
DKK 487.21
DKK 609.0120% Off
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

This hand-colored woodcut engraving is from "La France Illustrée" by **V.-A. Malte-Brun, a well-known geographical and historical series that focused on various regions and colonies of France. The engraving depicts Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana, a French overseas department located on the northeastern coast of South America. Visual Description: - The scene portrays a coastal settlement with small houses scattered among trees and vegetation, likely representing Cayenne during the 19th century. - The houses are modest, with sloped red-tile roofs, surrounded by tropical greenery. The town appears to be nestled between the sea on one side and forested hills on the other, giving it a tranquil, remote feeling. - The sky is cloudy, which, combined with the lush tropical landscape, creates a sense of the natural environment typical of a colonial settlement in the tropics. - In the background, you can see the coastline stretching out into the distance, adding depth to the scene and emphasizing Cayenne’s connection to the sea. Artistic Elements: - Hand-coloring enhances the natural beauty of the landscape and the warm, earthy tones of the settlement’s buildings. This technique was commonly used in the 19th century to bring vibrancy and life to engravings. - The engraving technique used is a woodcut, which involves carving an image into a wood block and then printing it, allowing for bold lines and clear textures that lend an earthy feel to the depiction. Historical Context: - Cayenne was an important colonial outpost for France in South America, known for its tropical climate, plantation economy, and as a penal colony during the 19th century (notably the infamous **Devil's Island** nearby). - The image is part of the broader **"Colonies d'Amérique et d'Océanie"** section, reflecting the French colonial empire's territories in the Americas and the Pacific. - V.-A. Malte-Brun (the author/editor) was a noted French geographer and writer, who contributed significantly to popular geographic works during the 19th century. This engraving, with its detailed depiction of Cayenne, provides a picturesque and somewhat idealized view of the French colonial presence in South America. It also captures the serene beauty of the tropical landscape, likely intended for European audiences curious about France’s overseas territories.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 7.29 in (18.5 cm)Width: 10.83 in (27.5 cm)Depth: 0 in (0.02 mm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1883
  • Condition:
    Condition: good, given age. Some creasing and general age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Remains of tape on the reverse. Please study scan carefully.
  • Seller Location:
    Langweer, NL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BG-13093-161stDibs: LU3054341481682

More From This Seller

View All
Rade de Taïti: 1883 Hand-Colored Engraving of Tahiti Harbor, La France Illustree
Located in Langweer, NL
This hand-colored woodcut engraving, titled "Rade de Taïti" (Tahiti Harbor), is from "La France Illustrée" by V.-A. Malte-Brun, similar to the previous print. It depicts a scene in t...
Category

Antique 1880s Prints

Materials

Paper

Pointe de Faré-Uté, Tahiti: Hand-Colored 19th Century Engraving
Located in Langweer, NL
This hand-colored woodcut engraving titled "Tahiti — Pointe de Faré-Uté" is from "La France Illustrée" by V.-A. Malte-Brun. It depicts a scene at the Pointe de Faré-Uté in Tahiti, wi...
Category

Antique 1880s Prints

Materials

Paper

Rare Original Antique View in Old Colours of Villefranche in France, c.1860
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Villefranche'. View of Villefranche near Nice, France. Source unknown, to be determined. Artists and Engravers: Published by Lemercier, Paris. Condition: ...
Category

Antique 19th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Old Print of Menton in Alpes-Maritimes in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Menton'. Original antique print of the commune of Menton, France. This print originates from 'Nice Et Savoie, Sites Pittoreques, Monuments, Description Et Histo...
Category

Antique 19th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of Villefranche in the Nice and Savoy Region of France, c.1865
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Villefranche près de Nice'. Original antique print of Villefranche near Nice, France. This print originates from 'Nice Et Savoie, Sites Pittoreques, Monuments, ...
Category

Antique 19th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Hand-Colored View of Nice, City in Southern France, ca.1850
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Nice'. View of the city of Nice, France. Source unknown, to be determined. Artists and Engravers: Anonymous. Condition: Good, general age-related toni...
Category

Antique 1850s Prints

Materials

Paper

You May Also Like

19th Century Hand-Colored Engraving on a Paper, France
Located in Sofia, BG
Fine engraving of the peaceful landscape of Orcière in France with a few figures on the road. France, circa 1890.  
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Drawings

Materials

Paper

Early 20th Century Color Engraving by E. Blanche – L'Invitation Imprévue - 2Y558
Located in Bordeaux, FR
This exquisite early 20th-century color engraving by E. Blanche, titled "L'Invitation Imprévue" ("The Unexpected Invitation"), captures a lively genre scene with rich detail and peri...
Category

Early 20th Century Antiquities

Materials

Paper

Saint Pierre - Original Lithograph - 19th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Saint Pierre is an original lithograph realized by an Anonymous engraver of the 19th Century, and represents Saint Pierre. Printed as part of the Series "France Pittoresque" as indi...
Category

19th Century Figurative Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Lithograph by Henri Rivière - Les Aspects de la Nature - Le Cap
By Henri Riviere
Located in NANTES, FR
Henri Rivière – “Les Aspects de la Nature - Le Cap” This lithograph is signed by Henri Rivière in the lower left corner. The artwork is authentic and dates from the original period. ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Prints

Materials

Paper

Lithograph by Henri Rivière - La Féérie des Heures - Le Crépuscule
By Henri Riviere
Located in NANTES, FR
Henri Rivière – “La Féerie des Heures - Twilight” This lithograph is signed by Henri Rivière and bears a red stamped seal in the lower right corner. The artwork is authentic and from...
Category

Early 20th Century French Prints

Materials

Paper

Beautiful Colour French Antique 1856 Hand Watercolour Map of Dept Des La Corse
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning 1856 hand watercolour map of the Austrian Alps titled Dept Des La Course taken from the Atlas National ...
Category

Antique 1850s French Early Victorian Maps

Materials

Paper