About this sheet
Brantas River as a Mountain Stream – East Java Landscape Lithograph, 1872
This luminous and tranquil scene captures the Brantas River in its early, mountainous course, flowing through East Java’s Pasoeroean Residency. It is plate number 12 from the large-format folio *Java, naar schilderijen en teekeningen van A. Salm*, lithographed with exceptional care by J.C. Greive Jr. and published by Frans Buffa & Zonen in Amsterdam, circa 1872.
The Brantas River, Java’s second-longest river, is portrayed here as a modest, winding stream at sunset. The landscape is alive with delicate detail: in the foreground, ducks and water buffalo cool themselves in the shallow waters, while a woman sits by the rock-lined edge of the stream, perhaps washing clothes or observing the evening light. On the right, behind gently swaying palm trees, stand modest Javanese dwellings nestled among banana plants and tall grass.
A graceful arched bridge, stone or timber, spans the stream in the middle ground, and small figures can be seen crossing it or moving along the pathways on either side. The background rolls away into warm-toned hills, with a central peak catching the golden light of the setting sun. The entire landscape is infused with soft, fading light and a quiet, pastoral calm that contrasts with Java’s better-known volcanic drama.
Abram Salm, a Dutch settler who lived in Java for 29 years, brought a naturalist’s eye and an artist’s sensibility to the island’s diverse terrain. His works, later transformed into chromolithographs by Greive, stand out for their blend of realism and romanticism. In this plate, Salm and Greive offer a rarely seen view of the Brantas River in its upper course, where it winds through a peaceful rural landscape far from the bustle of colonial towns.
This print is a visual celebration of water, light, and village life in the 19th-century East Indies—an evocative window into a world long past.
Condition report:
The lithograph is in very good condition. The image retains strong coloring and clarity, with no visible damage or discoloration in the printed area. The mount has minor age-related foxing and faint spotting, primarily around the margins. The original printed title ticket is present in the lower right corner.
Framing suggestion:
To complement the sunset tones and tranquil waters, we recommend a warm-toned frame in teak or natural oak. An ivory or light sand-colored archival mat will enhance the subtle transitions in sky and water. Use museum glass with UV protection to preserve the hand-finished hues and protect from future fading.
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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...
