Antique chromolithograph of a rijsttaffel. The rijsttaffel is the classic spectacle of Indies and colonial cuisine. A Dutch adaptation of hidang or prasmanan style of serving food, it is more of an event than a dish as some mistakenly call it. Rice and up to forty sides are served during the banquet with dishes from just about every culinary style of the Indies. Servants are at the ready to place and remove dishes as they are served.

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.