“View of Cape Town From Table Bay.” Lithograph printed by Ernst Kaufman in 1886 and published by J.H. Rose, Bookseller, Cape Town. Size (view): 33,5 x 62 cm.
Cape Town in those day was a thriving colonial port city at the southern tip of Africa, characterized by its strategic maritime importance and scenic beauty. The city was experiencing significant economic development. Next to being a key stopover on the sea route between Europe and Asia, this was largely driven by the discovery of diamonds in 1867 and gold in 1886.
This rare view shows Table Bay with numerous sailing ships, steamships, and smaller boats scattered across the water. Table Mountain is dominating the background, with its distinctive flat top, serving as an iconic natural landmark of Cape Town. As part of the British Empire, Cape Town bore the marks of colonial influence in its governance, societal structure, and cultural life. English was the predominant language, and the city hosted a mix of Dutch descendants (Afrikaners), British colonists, indigenous Africans, and other immigrant communities.
Price: Euro 1.850,-