Landschap met rivier, West-Java (?) c. 1816 - 1846

This is a pencil drawing of a river landscape, West Java, by Adrianus Johannes Bik. The sketch is rendered with a sensitive hand on paper, and the marks left behind are as important as what they represent. Pencil, invented in the 16th century and refined through the 18th and 19th centuries, wasn't just a tool for the artist, but also for surveyors, engineers, and administrators. The use of graphite embodies a wider culture of observation, documentation, and above all, colonial administration. The drawing’s hasty, unfinished quality speaks to the practical role of art in this context. It was not made for aesthetic display. Rather, it was a tool for gathering information, feeding back into the administration of the landscape itself. It is important to remember that every mark, every carefully observed detail, is intertwined with the social and political realities of the time. This reminds us to look beyond the surface and consider the historical processes embedded in the artwork.