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Nice old color example of Louis Renard's sea chart of the Southwestern Coast of Africa.

This late 17th-century Dutch sea chart captures the southwestern coast of Africa from Catembela (modern day Angola) to the Cape of Good Hope. This region, rich in maritime history and pivotal in the Age of Exploration, is depicted with intricate detail and artistic flourishes that signify both its exotic allure and its strategic importance to Dutch maritime interests.

The map encompasses regions inhabited by the Khoikhoi and San peoples, among others. Trading centers like Catembela (present-day Angola) were integral to the network of trade in gold, ivory, and slaves that linked interior Africa to the coast and beyond.

During the 17th century, this area was a critical segment of the Dutch maritime routes that facilitated spice trade and other commercial enterprises between Europe and the East Indies. The Dutch East India Company (VOC), established in 1602, dominated these routes and set up several trading posts and colonies along the African coast. Notably, the Cape of Good Hope served as a vital replenishment station for ships traversing the perilous waters between Europe and Asia. Explorers such as Bartolomeu Dias, who first rounded the Cape in 1488, and later Dutch navigators, charted these waters, enhancing their accessibility and strategic utility. The Dutch colony of Cape Town, founded in 1652, was a key center of Dutch influence in the region. The colony grew rapidly, attracting settlers from Europe and slaves from Asia and Africa, and it soon became a major hub for trade and commerce in the region. The Portuguese, meanwhile, had established settlements in Angola and Mozambique, and they also had a strong presence in the region's coastal trade networks.

European trade and commerce in the region during the second half of the 17th and first half of the 18th centuries was dominated by the transatlantic slave trade. Dutch and Portuguese ships were among the most active participants in this trade, which involved the transportation of millions of enslaved Africans to the Americas. The southwestern coast of Africa was a key source of slaves for the transatlantic trade, with large numbers of people being captured and sold into slavery by local African rulers and traders. In addition to the slave trade, European trade and commerce in the region during this period also included the exchange of a variety of other goods, including ivory, gold, and spices. The Dutch were particularly interested in the region's elephant ivory, which was highly prized in Europe for its use in luxury goods and carvings. 

The chart is adorned with two elaborate cartouches that are as informative as they are decorative. The title cartouche portrays a vivid scene of local fauna, including lions, against a backdrop of explorers or traders in period attire, emblematic of the exotic and untamed nature of the continent as perceived by contemporary Europeans. The second cartouche features allegorical figures, including Neptune and his entourage, symbolizing European naval prowess.