Figuurstudie van een man van Makassar die een doos vasthoudt 1824

This 1824 pencil sketch by Adrianus Johannes Bik depicts a man from Makassar, Indonesia, holding a box. The drawing, housed in the Rijksmuseum, provides a glimpse into the artist's fascination with the diverse cultures he encountered during his travels. Bik's meticulous attention to detail captures the man's attire and stance, offering a valuable historical record of the indigenous people of Makassar. The work exemplifies Bik's skill as a draftsman and his interest in ethnographic observation, a popular theme in 19th-century Dutch art.