Portrait of Peter August 1708

This 1708 etching by Dutch artist Pieter Schenk, titled "Portrait of Peter August", depicts Peter August, a Kalmuck man who served as a chamber attendant to the King and Elector of Saxony. The work features a close-up portrait of August, who is shown wearing traditional Kalmuck clothing. Schenk's use of shading and detail create a realistic portrayal of the subject, highlighting the cultural curiosity of August's foreignness. The piece, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, serves as a reminder of the cultural exchange and encounters that occurred in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries.