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Jean Baptiste Capri, a French deserter who
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Jean Baptiste Capri, a French deserter who
Jean Baptiste Capri, a French deserter who lived on Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands, with tattoos. Handcoloured stipple engraving from Frederic Shoberls The World in Miniature, The South Sea Islands, Ackermann, 1824. After an illustration in G. H. von Langsdorffs Voyages and Travels, 1813
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Media ID 23202190
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Ackermann Anthropology Baptiste Capri Deserter Frederic Hiva Marquesas Polynesia Shoberl Stipple Tattoo
EDITORS COMMENTS
This handcoloured stipple engraving, taken from Frederic Shoberl's The World in Miniature, published by Ackermann in 1824, presents Jean Baptiste Capri, a French deserter who found a new home among the indigenous people of Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands of Polynesia. Capri, who deserted from the French Navy around 1811, lived among the natives for over a decade, adopting their customs and traditions, including the intricate tattooing that is so prominently displayed on his body. The image, based on an earlier illustration in Georg Heinrich von Langsdorff's Voyages and Travels, published in 1813, offers a fascinating glimpse into the encounter between European and native cultures in the early 19th century. Capri's European features, contrasted with his Polynesian tattoos, serve as a visual reminder of the complexities and intricacies of cultural exchange and assimilation during this period. The Marquesas Islands, located in the central Pacific Ocean, were a popular destination for European explorers and settlers, who were drawn to the islands' rich natural resources and the unique culture of their indigenous inhabitants. Capri's story is just one of many tales of European deserters who found new lives among the native peoples of the South Seas, and this engraving offers a vivid and intriguing portrait of a man who chose to leave his old life behind and embrace a new one. The intricate detail and vibrant colours of this handcoloured stipple engraving make it a striking and evocative representation of a pivotal moment in the history of anthropological exploration and cultural exchange.
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