Pictorial map of Italian East Africa drawn by painter and illustrator Emilio Kalchschmidt and published in Milan by Officine Grafiche Parini Vanoni for Banca Popolare di Milano in 1936, the year the colony was established.
The map illustrates the territorial divisions of Somalia, Arrar, Galla-Sidamo, Addis Ababa, Amhara, and Eritrea, providing a wealth of information and numerous toponyms, including small villages. You’ll find plenty of illustrations of typical African animals, including lions, elephants, zebras, antelopes, hippos, cheetahs, monkeys, giraffes, and more.
At the bottom left, a table lists the graphic symbols used to identify navigable roads, rivers, arable and non-arable land, radio stations, and anchorages along the coast.
The map also highlights natural resources, listing agricultural products and opportunities for exploiting raw materials such as gold, silver, diamonds, oil, pearls, coffee, sugar, tobacco, and cotton.
Emilio Kalchschmidt (1902-1983) was an Italian painter and illustrator, renowned for his diverse works, ranging from urban landscapes to cartographic illustrations. Born in Novara in 1902, Kalchschmidt dedicated his career to art, leaving a significant mark on the Italian art scene of the 20th century.
Among his most notable works is this pictorial map of Italian East Africa, created in 1936 for the Banca Popolare di Milano.
Beyond his work as an illustrator, Kalchschmidt created numerous paintings depicting Italian landscapes and urban scenes. His works include ‘Il Naviglio Grande al Vico Lavandai’ (1968), a depiction of the renowned Milanese canal, and ‘Una piazzetta di Castell’Arquato’ (1975), which captures the essence of a picturesque Italian village. These paintings showcase his ability to capture the atmosphere and vibrancy of the depicted places.
