Verschillende ambachten van de Khoikhoi 1727

Michiel Elgersma's engraving depicts various crafts of the Khoikhoi people, rendered with fine lines and a focus on detailed representation. The composition is divided into distinct areas of activity, creating a layered, almost diagrammatic representation of Khoikhoi life. Elgersma meticulously delineates the Khoikhoi artisans at work: crafting ivory rings, weaving mats, making ropes, and shaping pots. The use of linear perspective adds depth to the scene, drawing the eye from the detailed foreground to the distant landscape. This structured approach not only showcases the activities but also imposes a European order on the depiction of indigenous practices. The structured composition and precise linework reflect a desire to classify and understand a foreign culture through a rational framework. The engraving invites viewers to interpret the scene as an ordered, comprehensible display of Khoikhoi craftsmanship, mediated through the artist’s representational choices.