Detail van een islamitisch vorstelijk graf bij Banjaran, Priangan, West-Java c. 1819 - 1824

Jannes Theodorus Bik made this pencil drawing of a detail of an Islamic royal tomb near Banjaran, West Java, in 1819. Bik’s drawing gives us insight into the cross-cultural artistic exchanges happening in the region during the early 19th century. As a Dutch artist, Bik was likely working within the context of Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia. The drawing may have been commissioned by colonial authorities interested in documenting local customs and artistic traditions. The tomb's design shows a fusion of Islamic and local Javanese artistic elements. The floral motifs suggest the integration of local aesthetics into Islamic funerary architecture, reflecting the way religious and cultural identities often intertwine. To understand this artwork better, researching the history of Dutch colonialism in Indonesia, the spread of Islam in Java, and the evolution of Javanese art is essential. Art history here connects us to institutional and social history.