Antique chromolithograph of De Oude Kasteelpoort van Batavia or the Great Gate of Batavia, once one of the city's landmarks and the entrance and exit to the East Indies entrepôt. The European archway gate was also known to the natives as Pintu Besar and the modern street along the pathway continues to bear the name. In the lithograph, two coolies are walking the central path while a horse-drawn cart drives on the side path.

Published in Leiden, the Netherlands, after a water drawing by J.C. Rappard,

Jhr. Josias Cornelis Rappard (1824-1898) was a colonel in the KNIL and a painter. During his posting in the Netherlands Indies 1842-1872, he painted and drew pictures of life and scenes in the Indies that were later, back in Leiden, The Netherlands, would be made into chromolithographs. The Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam holds a large number of these prints and collectors all over the world appreciate Rappard's classic watercolours.

Chromolithography was a popular method for colour printing in the 19th century because of its lower cost and relative ease to mass-produce. The process involves the use of stones and a chemical process to fasten images to the paper. High-end chromolithographs are hand-finished by an artist after the process to ensure the best possible fidelity in each copy.

This lithograph is part of a series, view all by clicking HERE