The title of the book translates approximately to ‘Java, scenes from the life, character sketches and costumes of Java’s residents’. Published in Leiden, the book has a foreword written by H.M. Lange, and its text and illustrations by W.L. Ritter and E. Hardouin respectively. The tome contains extensive descriptions and depictions of the lifestyles, appearances and occupations in 19th century Java under Dutch colonial rule.