02 works, PORTRAIT OF A LADY, Hendra Gunawan's Jackfruit Seller and ,Fish Vendor, Bali, with Footnotes #202

Hendra Gunawan, 1918 - 1983

Jackfruit Seller, c. 1958

Oil on canvas

90 by 135 cm; 35 ½ by 53 ¼ in. 

Private collection

The jackfruit, also known as jack tree is a species of tree in the fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family (Moraceae). Its origin is in the region between the Western Ghats of southern India, all of Sri Lanka and the rainforests of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. More on the  jackfruit

Jackfruit Seller is an early period work, characterized by its subtle palette and rhythmic depiction of subject matter. It is important to note that works from this foundational era rarely surface in the market. As seen in Jackfruit Seller, Gunawan focuses sharply on portraying vignettes of rural existence and elevating ordinary characters to numinous creatures. A magnificent celebration of life’s circadian rituals, the present work depicts a candid market scene, an archetypal theme that would enrapture the artist throughout his lifetime. 

This composition reveals Hendra’s adulation of the women that perpetuate the traditions of his country and hold a synergetic rapport with their native land. Garbed in traditional attire and sarongs embellished with floral and batik patterns, the subjects represent their nation. More on this painting

Hendra Gunawan, 1918 - 1983

Fish Vendor, Bali

Oil on canvas

150 x 200 cm. (59 x 78 3/4 in.)

Private collection

Painted in his studio in Bali between 1982- 1983, just a short period of time before his passing, Fish Vendor, Bali is a testament towards Gunawan’s remarkable long-life dedication and passion for his nation and its people through his art. Fish Vendor, Bali was a gift from the artist to Dr. R.M. Moerdowo, a doctor and art enthusiast who was treating Hendra Gunawan for his illness. This additional provenance not only gives us an insight to the history of this exceptional work, but also allows the viewer to enjoy the work from a very personal and intimate perspective. More on this painting

 

Hendra Gunawan was an Indonesian painter best known for his combining of Western painting techniques and traditional Indonesian aesthetics. His oeuvre spans a vast array of subjects, including, but not limited to: fishermen, fish, water buffaloes, nude women, masked men, guerrilla fighters, and abstract forms. Born on June 11, 1918 in Bandung, Dutch East Indies, he went on to paint the landscapes of his youth, evocatively capturing the rich colors and lush wildlife endemic to the region in a style reminiscent of German Expressionism. Gunawan fought against Dutch colonial rule as a guerilla fighter, and later as an activist against the ruling government, for which he was incarcerated from 1965–1978. The artist passed his sentence continuing to paint, creating works on the small scraps of rough canvas available to him. Today, his work can be found in the Neka Art Museum in Bali, the Singapore Art Museum, and the Ciputra Sundagese Heritage Museum in Jakarta, among others. Gunawan died on July 17, 1983 in Bali, Indonesia. More on Hendra Gunawan

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