Islamic Costume Print Pilgrim Attire of Mecca, 1863 Dutch Lithograph

Islamic Costume Print Pilgrim Attire of Mecca, 1863 Dutch Lithograph

This refined 19th-century lithograph titled “Het Pelgrimsgewaad” (The Pilgrim Attire) offers a visually compelling representation of traditional pilgrimage clothing worn by Muslims during the Hajj. Depicted in the foreground are a male and female pilgrim dressed in their respective ceremonial garments, standing against a desolate mountainous backdrop suggestive of the Hejaz region surrounding Mecca.

The man is shown in the *ihram*, the simple, unstitched white garments worn by male pilgrims, consisting of two cloths wrapped around the body to signify purity, humility, and equality before God. He holds a string of prayer beads in his right hand, suggesting devotion and religious contemplation. Next to him stands a veiled woman in a fully enveloping white garment, her face shielded by a niqab-like covering typical of 19th-century Arabian Peninsula customs, especially during religious observance.

Published in 1863 as part of the Dutch series *De Voornaamste Godsdiensten* (The Principal Religions), under the Islam volume titled *Het Islamisme*, this lithograph reflects the scholarly and ethnographic interests of the period. The series was authored by Dr. Reinhart Pieter Anne Dozy, a pioneering Orientalist and professor at Leiden University, known for his critical and historically grounded studies of Islamic culture and history.

The lithograph was printed by Emrik & Binger in Haarlem, a highly regarded Dutch lithographic firm whose reputation was built on precision and artistic quality. Their mastery of tonal lithography is evident here in the fine modeling of the figures’ garments and the subtle rendering of the desert setting, creating a harmonious balance between ethnographic detail and aesthetic refinement.

This image is not only a valuable visual record of 19th-century Islamic pilgrimage attire but also a respectful and informative interpretation of religious practice, aimed at educating Western audiences about unfamiliar cultural traditions in a time of increasing global intellectual curiosity.

Condition Report:

Good condition with minor foxing to the left margin.

Framing tips:

Best framed with a warm ivory or parchment-colored mat and a dark wood or neutral black frame to accentuate the striking contrast between the figures and their desert setting.