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Portraits of Encounter: Chief Potatow and Omai of Tahiti, Engraved in ca.1777
About the Item
The original antique engraving for sale presents side-by-side portraits of two individuals from Tahiti, labeled as "Portrait of POTATOW" and "Portrait of OMAI." The style of the engraving is detailed and realistic, typical of the late 18th-century works that aimed to document and portray individuals from newly encountered lands during exploratory voyages.
On the left, Potatow is depicted with a solemn expression, wearing a turban-like headpiece, which may indicate his status as a chief within his community. His attire and the manner in which he is wrapped in a cloak suggest dignity and importance.
On the right, Omai is shown in profile, also draped in a cloak. His curly hair and distinct facial features are rendered with care, which underscores the intent of the artist to convey as much authenticity as possible about the subject.
Chief Potatow and Omai of Tahiti by James Cook and George William Anderson – Illustrations from Cook’s Voyages
The two individuals portrayed in the engraving are significant figures related to Captain James Cook's voyages in the Pacific.
**Potatow (or Potatau)**:
Potatow was a chief of Punaauia, a district on the island of Tahiti. He became known to Europeans through Captain James Cook's second voyage (1772-1775) when the English artist William Hodges, who accompanied Cook, sketched his portrait. This particular image was engraved by John Hall for the publication of Cook's account of his voyages. Potatow represents the interactions between European explorers and Polynesian leaders, which were characterized by both collaboration and conflict.
**Omai (also known as Mai)**:
Omai was a native Tahitian who joined Captain Cook during the second voyage. He is particularly notable for having traveled back to England with Cook. During his two-year stay, he became somewhat of a celebrity as an example of the "noble savage" in Enlightenment-era Britain. He was introduced to British society and was even presented at the Court of King George III. Omai’s return journey to Tahiti was arranged, and he departed England in 1776, aboard the ship captained by Tobias Furneaux. His life upon returning to Tahiti is less well documented, but it's understood that he did not regain any significant status and lived out his life in relative obscurity.
These portraits are of ethnographic and historical interest, as they represent early European attempts to document and understand the peoples of the Pacific Islands during the period of exploration and at the onset of colonial encounters.
- Dimensions:Height: 9.85 in (25 cm)Width: 14.97 in (38 cm)Depth: 0 in (0.02 mm)
- Materials and Techniques:Paper,Engraved
- Period:1770-1779
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1777
- Condition:Fair condition. The images itself sharp, but the paper thin and showing some soiling and offset of text. Lower edge rough. Study the images carefully.
- Seller Location:Langweer, NL
- Reference Number:
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