About this sheet
A scarce original tinted lithograph depicting two important colonial buildings in nineteenth-century Batavia (present-day Jakarta), published in 1860 in the celebrated Bataviaasch Album by G. Kolff & Co. This attractive view combines architectural, historical, and topographical interest, documenting the administrative heart of the Dutch East Indies during one of the most significant periods of colonial development.
The print portrays the residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the colonial army (Woning van Z. Exc. den Generaal van het Leger) alongside the Hôtel de S. Exc. le Général. Elegant neoclassical architecture is set within landscaped grounds shaded by mature tropical trees, while figures strolling through the scene provide a vivid sense of daily life in nineteenth-century Batavia. The composition captures the unique fusion of European architectural traditions and the tropical environment of Java.
The image was drawn by Charles Theodore Deeleman, a Dutch Water Board engineer and skilled draftsman whose work provides an invaluable visual record of Batavia before the dramatic urban changes of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. His drawings were transformed into finely executed lithographs and issued by G. Kolff & Co., one of the most important publishing houses operating in the Dutch East Indies.
The Bataviaasch Album ranks among the most desirable pictorial records of colonial Jakarta. Produced for a limited audience of officials, merchants, and visitors, its views preserve buildings, streets, and landscapes that have often been altered or disappeared entirely. As a result, original plates from the publication are increasingly sought after by collectors of Indonesian history, Dutch colonial material, Southeast Asian prints, and architectural views.
The decorative border surrounding the central image adds elegance and refinement, while the delicate original tinting enhances the atmosphere of the tropical setting. The print works equally well as a historical document and as a decorative artwork suitable for both traditional and contemporary interiors.
Original views of Batavia remain among the most collectible images relating to Indonesia, particularly when they depict significant government buildings and can be traced to important publications such as the Bataviaasch Album.
Condition Report:
Good antique condition consistent with age. Minor age toning, occasional foxing, and light handling wear. The printed image remains fresh and attractive with pleasing original tinting. Please examine all photographs carefully as they form part of the description.
Framing Suggestions:
This lithograph displays beautifully in a dark walnut, ebonized, or black-and-gilt frame with a warm ivory museum mat. It is particularly suitable for libraries, studies, offices, hotels, and interiors with connections to Indonesia, Dutch colonial history, or Southeast Asian art.
This offering is for an original nineteenth-century tinted lithograph, not a modern reproduction. Any framed room visualizations are intended solely to illustrate potential display options and may not accurately represent the print's exact scale relative to the frame or interior setting. The print is sold unframed.
