The Macassan prahu

Date2006

Maker Dhuwarrwarr Marika Australian, born 1946

Label Text"For some 300 years, until the beginning of the twentieth century, Macassan fishermen from what is now Sulawesi in Indonesia used to sail to the northern shores of Australia every monsoon season to collect sea cucumbers (trepang). They introduced metal to the Yolngu (Aboriginal people of eastern Arnhem Land) as well as words which are still in use today: the Yolngu word for "outsider" is balanda, a variation on the word "Hollander". The prahu, with its distinctive sails and two rudders, is shown with its crew, the cargo of sacks of rice, trepang, and swords and axes. The background design is the Rirratjingu clan design for water." --Dhuwarrwarr Marika

Object number2007.81.4

Photo CreditPhoto: Elizabeth Mann

Credit LineGift of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

DimensionsImage: 15 3/4 x 21 1/4 in. (40 x 54 cm) Sheet: 22 1/16 x 29 15/16 in. (56 x 76 cm)

MediumLinocut in one color, printed from one block.