Koppen en aderlaten door Khoikhoi 1727

Jan Caspar Philips created this print titled ‘Koppen en aderlaten door Khoikhoi’ which translates to ‘Cupping and bloodletting by Khoikhoi’. It’s an etching now held at the Rijksmuseum. This image offers a window into the colonial gaze of the 18th century, depicting a medical practice of the Khoikhoi people of South Africa. The Khoikhoi, an indigenous group, are shown performing cupping and bloodletting, procedures aimed at healing. Yet, what does it mean to witness this scene through the eyes of Philips, a Dutch artist? The print exists within a history of European exploration and colonization, and raises questions about the representation of non-European cultures. Are we seeing an objective record, or is the artist's own cultural understanding shaping the image? The very act of depicting the Khoikhoi in this manner carries implications of power and cultural difference. This print invites us to consider how images can reflect not just a scene, but also the complex relationship between observer and observed.