Bewoners van de Nieuwe Hebriden eilanden (Vanuatu) 1803

This hand-colored engraving by Ludwig Gottlieb Portman from 1803 depicts inhabitants of the New Hebrides islands (Vanuatu) and is part of a larger series of engravings showcasing different cultures and peoples. The piece showcases a man and a woman with a child on her back, the man playing a flute and the woman adorned with necklaces and a woven skirt. The artist's detailed attention to the figures' clothing and accessories provides a glimpse into the everyday life and cultural traditions of the people of Vanuatu. This work, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, is a valuable historical document offering insight into early European perceptions of indigenous cultures.