Afrikaanse musicerende man met kalebasinstrument c. 1675 - 1725

This anonymous watercolor from the 17th or 18th century depicts an African man playing a musical instrument. He is standing on a patch of earth with his foot raised, holding a gourd instrument, also known as a calabash, in his right hand. This depiction of a Black person in South Africa was likely created by a European artist during the Dutch colonial period. The artwork offers a glimpse into the diverse musical traditions of Africa and provides valuable information about the cultural encounters that took place between Europeans and Africans in the 17th and 18th centuries.