Antique chromolithograph of Fort Rotterdam in Makassar. One of the major Dutch holdings in Celebes, Makassar was a key port city along with Manado. The native Makassarese and Bugis fought many wars against the Dutch. Still standing to this day, the fort was originally built by the Gowa Kingdom and known as Fort Ujung Pandang, which gave rise to another of Makassar’s names. The fort depicted in the lithograph was built in the 1670s and was extensively restored in the 1970s when it was turned into a heritage site by the Indonesian government.

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