1907 Hellgrewe Chromolithograph View of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

This is a c. 1907 chromolithograph image of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, by Robert Hellgrewe. The image is after one of Hellgrewe's many paintings composed during his 1885-86 voyage to German East Africa (modern day Tanzania).

A Closer Look

The view presents a port scene at Dar es Salaam. The foreground is occupied by German and African traders engaged in business and a dhow is being loaded. In the background, imposing German colonial buildings line the harbor, with larger European steamships illustrated at anchor in the harbor.

Chromolithography

Chromolithography, sometimes called oleography, is a color lithographic technique developed in the mid-19th century. The process involved using multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to yield a rich composite effect. Oftentimes, the process would start with a black basecoat upon which subsequent colors were layered. Some chromolithographs used 30 or more separate lithographic stones to achieve the desired product. Chromolithograph color could also be effectively blended for even more dramatic results. The process became extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it emerged as the dominant method of color printing. The vivid color chromolithography produced made it exceptionally effective for advertising and propaganda imagery.

Publication History and Census

This view is part of a series, 'Land und Leben' (Land and Life) published by Dr. A. Wünsche. This is part of the Kolonial-Waldbilder (Colonial Murals), image no 1. The images are undated by were issued from about 1907 to 1912.