Just send it null.
int width = image.getWidth(null);
If you aren't using an ImageObserver, or if your applet doesn't override the imageUpdate method, then you don't need to bother with the ImageObserver parameter. The ImageObserver only comes in to play when you call getWidth on an Image that is in the process of being constructed, and still has a width of -1. In that case, then the ImageObserver's imageUpdate method gets fired after the Image is created.