Ethnographic, Travel & Exploration

16x10 cm

ROFFIAEN. Ruffien.

First published in Het gezantschap der Nêerlandtsche Oost-Indische Compagnie, aan den grooten Tartarische cham, den tegenwoordigen keizer van China...by J. Nieuhof in 1665.
Johan Nieuhof (1618-1672) was a Dutch explorer who recorded his travels in Brazil, China and India. Niehof left for Dutch Brazil in 1640 with the Dutch West India Company and spent the rest of his life abroad sketching and recording his travels, his most famous journey was a trip from Canton to Peking in 1655-1657. He disappeared without trace on Madagascar on October 8th 1672.
The engravings were based on the sketches by Nieuhof.
This image depicts a Chinese pimp parading his prostitute.
Image verso depicts Chinese beggars performing various religious masochistic acts.
The work was republished in several languages, this from a German edition published from 1666.
German text below and verso.