Antique chromolithograph of servants’ quarters in Java. Servants often have a section of the house to live in. During colonial times, whole families may be expected to live in the servants’ quarters with the woman being the baboe and the man tending the grounds or do the hard labor. Here the woman can be seen blowing into the fire to cook the rice in a traditional rice cooker while the child carries firewood. The man polishes a shoe on the side.

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