Sale 213 Lot 169

"Capitao do Matto" (Bush Captain or slave catcher), 19th century
Monochrome lithograph, titled "Capitao do Matto" (Bush Captain), depicts a historical scene in a tropical Brazilian landscape, featuring a mounted Black man and a captive. The central figure, a "bush captain" or slave catcher, sits atop a white horse, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and carrying a rifle, symbolizing his role in policing enslaved populations. Behind the horse, another Black man is being led with a rope around his neck, highlighting the brutal realities of the colonial era. The composition is framed by lush tropical vegetation, including a prominent palm tree on the left and dense shrubs on the right. Small inscriptions at the bottom indicate the work was drawn by Rugendas, lithographed by Zwinger, and printed at the Lith. de Engelmann in Paris.
Sheet: 17.25 x 12.75 inches; image: 14.5 x 11 inches
$140-160