This photograph shows the sculptured relief on the interior of the balustrades of the main temples of the Hindu-Javanese Candi Prambanan (also known as Candi Lara Jonggrang). These recount the Hindu epic tale of the ‘Ramayana’, and depict the Javanese adaptation rather than the Indian text. The narration begins on the panel left of the east entrance of the Shiva temple and continues southwards. Although the architectural style of the Candi Prambanan is based on the Indian model, the motifs are distinctly Javanese, and represent the peak of Hindu-Javanese art. This photograph is part of a portfolio containing an extensive photographic survey detailing the Candi Prambanan. It was compiled by Dr. Isaac Groneman, a Dutch scholar of Javanese history and culture. He was assisted by pioneer Indonesian photographer Kassian Cephas, who was responsible for the pictorial documentation during the excavation of the site from 1889 to 1890.
