Habit of an East Indian

by Thomas Jefferys

"Habit of an East Indian" is a classic example of ethnographic studies conducted in the 18th century. The plate was made by Thomas Jefferys, an English cartographer and geographer who published his masterwork A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations, Ancient and Modern between 1757 and 1772. This book consists of four volumes.

The plate presents a peculiar European view of India at a time when Britain began its colonial expansion there. The figure depicted wears a costume typical for that era. The engraving is very detailed and shows all the fabrics and decorations used at that time. Jefferys' work played a key role in forming an "orientalist" style.