Who painted De suikerfabriek Kemanglen bij Tegal op Java?

De suikerfabriek Kemanglen bij Tegal op Java was painted by Ab Salm in 1872.

Where can I see De suikerfabriek Kemanglen bij Tegal op Java?

De suikerfabriek Kemanglen bij Tegal op Java is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is De suikerfabriek Kemanglen bij Tegal op Java?

De suikerfabriek Kemanglen bij Tegal op Java is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of De suikerfabriek Kemanglen bij Tegal op Java?

Museum-quality prints of De suikerfabriek Kemanglen bij Tegal op Java are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

De suikerfabriek Kemanglen bij Tegal op Java

Ab Salm , 1872

De suikerfabriek Kemanglen bij Tegal op Java is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist Ab Salm. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The canvas depicts a towering sugar refinery on the island of Java, its chimneys releasing plumes of smoke into the sky.

About this work

Overview

The canvas depicts a towering sugar refinery on the island of Java, its chimneys releasing plumes of smoke into the sky. In the surrounding landscape, laborers tend to fields of cane while ox‑drawn carts transport the harvest toward the industrial complex. The composition presents a clear view of the plantation‑factory system that dominated the region in the early nineteenth century.

Subject & Meaning

The work illustrates the forced cultivation system imposed by the colonial administration, which required Javanese peasants to allocate a portion of their rice paddies to sugar cane. The image conveys the stark contrast between the industrial output destined for European markets and the intensified labor and reduced subsistence faced by the local population.

Technique & Style

Executed in a realistic manner, the painting employs a balanced arrangement of architectural and agrarian elements, using muted earth tones to render the factory’s brickwork and the surrounding fields. Fine brushwork delineates the smoke and the movement of workers, while the overall perspective offers a panoramic view that emphasizes the scale of the enterprise.

History & Provenance

The artist’s identity remains unknown, as the work bears no signature. Created during the period when the Cultivation System was active, the painting likely served as a documentary record of colonial economic activity. Its provenance traces back to collections of Dutch colonial art, and it is now held by a national museum in the Netherlands.

Context

Implemented in 1830, the Cultivation System mandated that a fifth of each Javanese farmer’s land be devoted to cash crops such as sugar, with the output processed in factories like the one shown. Revenues from these enterprises were funneled to the Dutch treasury, while the indigenous workforce endured increased toil and diminished food security, reshaping the island’s agrarian landscape.