Suriname Jungle Life and Sacred Stone Lithographs by Karl Martin, 1888, Set of 2

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This rare and evocative paired set of lithographic plates was published in 1888 as part of Karl Martin’s important scientific … Read more This rare and evocative paired set of lithographic plates was published in 1888 as part of Karl Martin’s important scientific work Bericht über eine Reise nach Niederländisch West-Indien, issued by the prestigious academic publisher E. J. Brill in Leiden. Karl Martin, Professor of Geology at the University of Leiden, documented not only the geological structure of the Dutch West Indies and Dutch Guiana, but also produced an exceptional visual record of daily life, travel, exploration, and sacred landscapes in Suriname.

The first plate depicts a traditional house in Langahuka, constructed with a steeply sloped thatched roof and set within dense tropical vegetation. Below, a tranquil river scene unfolds with a covered canoe moored along the jungle bank, illustrating the vital role of waterways in transportation and everyday life in 19th-century Suriname. Together, these scenes provide a rare ethnographic view of settlement patterns, architecture, and river culture within the rainforest environment. The second plate focuses on exploration and sacred natural landscape. The upper scene shows a forest explorer resting beneath towering jungle trees entwined with vines, emphasizing the scale, density, and mystery of the Surinamese rainforest. Below, a monumental granite boulder known as the “Holy Stone of Worsteling Jakobs” is shown deep within the forest, revered as a sacred natural site. A human figure at its base provides dramatic scale, underscoring both the spiritual and geological significance attributed to this revered stone formation. Executed in finely detailed lithography with subtle hand tinting in warm sepia and golden tones, these plates balance scientific documentation with Romantic colonial-era landscape aesthetics. The refined line work, atmospheric depth, and carefully observed natural detail make the set both visually powerful and historically important. This paired set is highly desirable for collectors of Suriname material, Dutch colonial history, ethnography, sacred landscape imagery, Caribbean and Guiana exploration, and 19th-century scientific illustration. Displayed together, the two sheets form a cohesive narrative of habitation, river travel, exploration, and spiritual geology within one of South America’s most remote tropical regions.

Condition Report Both original lithographs are in very good antique condition. Even overall age toning consistent with late 19th-century paper. Minor scattered foxing, mainly confined to the outer margins. Images remain clean and well preserved with strong clarity. No losses, no restorations, and no structural damage. Original plate margins intact.

Technique: Lithograph Maker: Karl Martin, Leiden, 1888 See less