Prints and Principles

Most of the recent posts give details about individual prints and earlier posts discuss some of the subtle principles guiding artists in making images meaningful and memorable. For prints that are unsold, click "Items still available for sale" below. All other prints are no longer available. My contact email is oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com and my Instagram username is @printsandprinciples. I have created a separate blog to show my own work: https://printsandprinciplesjamesbrown.blogspot.com

Friday, 2 January 2026

Jean Cousin, “Funerary Procession of Indigenous Brazilians”, 1558

Attributed to, or from the circle of, Jean Cousin the Younger (c. 1525–c. 1595), and/or Jean Goujon (c. 1510–c. 1565/68), and/or Germain Pilon (1535–1590) (see attribution offered by Christie’s Auctions: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5909342)

“Funerary Procession of Indigenous Brazilians” (descriptive title only), 1558

Technical Details & Condition:

This rare wood-engraving is executed on fine laid paper, trimmed around the image borderline, and backed with a support sheet of archival quality washi paper. It was published in Paris in 1558 by Maurice de La Porte (II) (1490–1558) as an illustration on page 83 of André Thevet’s (1502/16–1590) Les Singularitez de la France antarctique, autrement nommée Amérique: & de plusieurs terres & isles decouvertes de nostre temps. This work chronicles early European observations of the New World and its inhabitants.

The impression is strong and near faultless, with the sheet in pristine condition—free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 8.9 x 11.2 cm
• Image borderline: 8.7 x 11 cm

References:

Archive.org offers an online view of this print along with its contextual background in the publication: https://archive.org/details/DELTA54095RES/page/n191/mode/2up.

To give a flavour of the accompanying text describing this detailed wood-engraving, here is an extract (translated):
“The children of the deceased, after a month, will invite their friends to hold some feast and solemnity in his honour. And there they will gather people of various colours, plumage, and other attire in their own style, performing a thousand … ceremonies. I will mention in this place certain birds in this regard, having a similar cry and voice to that of an owl of this country, drawn upon the mournful one: which these Savages hold in such great reverence that one would not dare touch them, saying that by this mournful song these birds weep for the death of their friends: which makes them remember them.” (p. 83)

Price & Shipping:

AU$247 (approximately US$165.38 / €141.07 / £122.84), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you wish to acquire this extraordinary wood-engraving—an early depiction of indigenous Americans, executed during Michelangelo’s lifetime—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I will be happy to send a PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.

This print has been sold