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Framed and on the wall
Frame and rooms are illustrations of how the print could look, drawn to its real size; it is sold unframed unless the description says otherwise.
Peoples and Costume
Batak Warrior Portrait, Sumatra, C J Kleingrothe, Dutch East Indies c1910
$425
€380 · £320
Original print, not a reproduction
Ships worldwide from the Netherlands, insured and tracked. 14-day returns.
- Date
- 1910
- Sheet size
- 17.7 × 13.4 in (45 × 34 cm)
- Condition
- Very good for age. Light toning and minor foxing to outer margins consistent with age, image area clean and strong. No tears or losses. Wide original margins preserved.
- Island
- Sumatra
- Collection
- Peoples and Costume
- Period
- Netherlands Indies, 1850 and after
- Stock no.
- f_47662952
What the condition grades mean
- Excellent
- Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
- Very good
- Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
- Good
- Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
- Fair
- Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Batak Warrior Portrait, Sumatra, C J Kleingrothe, Dutch East Indies c1910
This compelling antique photogravure features a striking portrait of a Batak man from North Sumatra, produced around 1900 by renowned colonial-era photographer C. J. Kleingrothe in Medan, Deli. The print shows a male figure holding a staff-like object, his torso bare, wrapped in traditional cloth, with intense expression and high detail capturing the cultural authenticity of the Batak people of the time. The plate is titled in three languages beneath the image: “Battakker” (German), “Battakker” (Dutch), and “Battak” (English), reflecting its publication for an international audience.
Kleingrothe was one of the most important commercial photographers active in the Dutch East Indies, known especially for documenting Sumatran plantation life and indigenous ethnic groups before modernization reshaped the region. His studio collaborated with the Deli planters’ association, producing fine publication plates such as this one. This work preserves a rare anthropological record of Batak culture during a transformative period of Southeast Asian history.
Printed in Munich by the well-regarded atelier J.B. Obernetter, the gravure process achieves rich tonal depth and subtle shading, giving the portrait a lifelike presence. The dramatic lighting and carefully staged pose suggest this was intended as part of a visual ethnographic series rather than a casual field photograph.
The sheet retains its generous original margins, ideal for display and framing according to collector preference. This is a genuine early 20th-century impression, not a reproduction, making it an attractive acquisition for collectors of Indonesian history, colonial photography, or ethnographic art. Works by Kleingrothe have become increasingly scarce on the market and are held in major institutional collections worldwide.
A powerful and historically significant portrait that offers both visual impact and cultural depth.
Framing Tips: A dark walnut or black wood frame with off-white mat will emphasize the portrait’s dramatic aesthetic. Floating mount recommended to preserve the wide margins. Also strong against deep green or earthy wall tones.
Technique: Photogravure
Maker: C. J. Kleingrothe (photographer), printed by J.B. Obernetter, Munich
Place & Date: Medan (photographed), c. 1900 to 1910
