About this sheet
Java’s Kawis Mountains and Tobacco Estate near Malang – Antique Lithograph, 1872
This engaging chromolithograph shows a tobacco plantation set against the backdrop of the Kawische (Kawi) Mountains near Malang, East Java. It is plate number 10 from the highly regarded 19th-century folio *Java, naar schilderijen en teekeningen van A. Salm*, lithographed by J.C. Greive Jr. and published by Frans Buffa & Zonen in Amsterdam around 1872.
The composition is both idyllic and industrious. In the foreground, colonial-style buildings with red-tiled roofs mark the administrative and residential heart of a tobacco estate, surrounded by neatly laid fields. Workers and carts pass along the wide dirt road that winds toward the hills, lending the scene movement and purpose. In the distance, another large plantation structure anchors the landscape, beyond which a wide valley stretches toward volcanic mountain peaks.
The focal point is a striking twin-peaked mountain range, likely Mount Kawi and Mount Butak, with a light plume of smoke rising gently from one of the summits—perhaps from nearby Mount Kelud, one of Java’s most active volcanoes. The soft morning or evening light gives the mountains a warm glow and enhances the richly layered greens of the cultivated terrain.
Unlike the purely wild or village-focused plates in the series, this image blends agricultural enterprise with natural grandeur, making it one of the few that explicitly depicts the Dutch colonial economy. Abram Salm’s sensitivity to Java’s landscapes is on full display here, capturing both the beauty and the rhythm of life on a 19th-century tobacco estate. J.C. Greive’s lithographic precision and subtle hand-finishing bring out the contrasts between earth, architecture, and sky.
This print is an excellent acquisition for collectors interested in colonial agriculture, Javanese landscapes, or Dutch-Indonesian history.
Condition report:
The lithograph is in good condition. The image area is crisp and well-preserved with vibrant colors. Light foxing appears in the outer margins but does not affect the central scene. The original title ticket is intact and affixed in the lower right corner.
Framing suggestion:
A warm-toned wooden frame in teak or walnut will match the earthy palette and historical character. Pair it with an off-white or light beige archival mat to give the piece air and draw the eye into the middle distance. UV-protective museum glass is highly recommended to preserve the detail and color richness.
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The complete list from this work below. A large number of them available for purchase in my shop:
1. Het land Tjitarap; Assistent-Residentie Buitenzorg
The land of Tjitarap; Assistant Residency of Buitenzorg
2. De Vulkaan de Smeroe; genomen uit de Residentie Pasoeroean
The volcano Smeroe; seen from the Pasoeroean Residency
3. Waterval Singahan; Residentie Rembang
The Singahan Waterfall; Rembang Residency
4. De Suikerfabriek Pangka; Residentie Tagal
The sugar factory Pangka; Tagal Residency
5. Gezicht op het land Tjiliboet; Assistent-Residentie Buitenzorg
View of the land of Tjiliboet; Assistant Residency of Buitenzorg
6. De kleine Baai Srigonjo, zuidkust van Java; Assistent-Residentie Malang, Residentie Pasoeroean
The small bay of Srigonjo, south coast of Java; Assistant Residency of Malang, Pasoeroean Residency
7. Anjer, straat Sunda, Noordkust van Java; Residentie Bantam
Anjer, Sunda Strait, north coast of Java; Bantam Residency
8. De Vuurspuwende Berg Bromo in 1856; Residentie Probolingo
The erupting Mount Bromo in 1856; Probolingo Residency
9. Gezicht op de rivier de Solo; Assistent-Residentie Toeban, Residentie Rembang
View of the Solo River; Assistant Residency of Toeban, Rembang Residency
10. Gezicht op het Kawische Gebergte en op de Tabaks-onderneming; Assistent-Residentie Malang
View of the Kawische Mountains and a tobacco plantation; Assistant Residency of Malang
11. Weg van Buitenzorg naar de Vallei van den Salakh; Residentie Buitenzorg
Road from Buitenzorg to the Valley of Salakh; Buitenzorg Residency
12. De Rivier Brantas als Bergstroom; Residentie Pasoeroean
The Brantas River as a mountain stream; Pasoeroean Residency
13. Landschap in de Bataviasche ommelanden
Landscape in the surroundings of Batavia
14. Landschap in het Malangsche; Residentie Pasoeroean
Landscape in the Malang region; Pasoeroean Residency
15. Huwelijks-optocht in de Vallei van den Salakh
Wedding procession in the Valley of Salakh
16. Landschap in de Residentie Bantam
Landscape in the Bantam Residency
17. Gezicht op het land Kedong Badak en den grooten weg naar Buitenzorg
View of the land Kedong Badak and the main road to Buitenzorg
18. Dorpsfeest in de omstreken van den Ardjoeno; Residentie Soerabaja
Village festival in the surroundings of Mount Ardjoeno; Soerabaja Residency
19. Landschap bij maneschijn in de omstreken van Sumedang; Preanger regentschappen
Moonlit...
