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Mai or Omai, young Ra iatean man
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Mai or Omai, young Ra iatean man
Mai or Omai, young Ra iatean man, Society Islands, in turban and cape. The second Pacific Islander to visit Europe after Ahu-toru. Lithograph by Karl Joseph Brodtmann from Heinrich Rudolf Schinzs Illustrated Natural History of Men and Animals, 1836
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Media ID 23200336
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Brodtmann Ethnography Heinrich Islander Karl Nation Pacific Polynesia Rudolf Schinz Tahiti
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This lithograph depicts Mai or Omai, a young Raitean man from the Society Islands in the Pacific. He is dressed in traditional attire, wearing a turban and a cape, as he gazes intently at the viewer. Mai or Omai is recognized as the second Pacific Islander to have visited Europe, following the famous visit of Ahu-toru in 1767. His journey to Europe took place in 1815, when he was brought to Paris by the British explorer, Captain Frederick Marryat. The image is taken from Heinrich Rudolf Schinz's Illustrated Natural History of Men and Animals, published in 1836. The work was a groundbreaking ethnographic study that aimed to document the natural history of various human populations around the world. The lithograph was produced by Karl Joseph Brodtmann, a renowned German artist and lithographer. Mai or Omai's visit to Europe marked a significant moment in the history of intercultural exchange. He was received with great curiosity and fascination by European society, and his presence challenged prevailing notions of race and ethnicity. The encounter between Mai or Omai and Europeans also provided valuable insights into the culture and customs of the Pacific Islands, which were then largely unknown to the Western world. The intricate details of Mai or Omai's traditional clothing and the vivid colors of the lithograph serve as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Raitean people. The image offers a glimpse into the past, providing us with a valuable record of a moment in history when the world seemed smaller, and the possibilities for intercultural exchange seemed limitless.
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