Description

The engraving features three women from Kréennes and a young boy. Although it serves as the frontispiece, it accompanies letter VIII, "Du Fort de Christiansbourg, sur la Côte de Guinnée, Du 16 Octobre 1785," in which Isert discussed the importance of women's dress and appearance in Kréenes ("cette importante affaire"). As he explained, the women there often spent two hours at their toilette. The results of these efforts can be seen most clearly in the figure on the right: her hair is in a bun, and she wears a gold necklace. (In Kréennes, particular emphasis was placed on the decoration of head.) More strikingly, however, her skin is stamped with shapes, such as the cresent on her forehead and the star on her right forearm. As Isert noted, it was customary for women to soak wooden forms in bright paint and stamp their skin.; Frontispiece for Paul E. Isert's Voyages en Guinée et dans les îles Caraïbes en Amérique (A Paris: chez Maradan, libraire, rue du Cimitière Saint André, no. 9, M.DCC.XCIII [1793]).

Record Contributed By

The Library Company of Philadelphia

Record Harvested From

PA Digital