signed and dated lower right
signed, titled and dated on the reverse
oil on canvas
66 x 53 cm, 92 x 77.5 cm (framed)
Provenance
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner
Lot Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
On display at Art Agenda Jakarta.
Buy Now for US$ 12,500
Widayat and Sudjojono on Figure and Reality
Istri Nelayan (1989) reflects Widayat’ssignature“decorative-magical”approach, where figuresare not isolated subjects but integrated into their environment. The fisherman’s wife mergesvisually with the sea and surrounding textures, suggesting a contemplative, almost mythic unitybetween human life and nature. This aligns with Widayat’s broader practice of transforminglived reality into symbolic, poetic imagery rather than depicting it literally.
Istri Nelayan (1989) by Widayat and Di Depan Kelambu Terbuka (1939) by S. Sudjojono share acommon ground in their aesthetic approach, each is, to a certain degree, expressive and poetic.Both uphold a commitment to honesty in their work. Widayat emphasizes an inward,contemplative honesty, rendering his female figure as merged with and attuned to thesurrounding seascape. In contrast, Sudjojono values the honesty of reality, presenting his femalesubject in a direct and unembellished manner.
Both works occupy important positions in the history of Indonesian art. Each articulates thelived realitiesof Indonesian society in its time, particularly the experiences of women.
