Javaanse hoffunctionarissen, anonymous, c. 1820 - c. 1870

Javaanse hoffunctionarissen, anonymous, c. 1820 - c. 1870

painting, h 196.8cm × w 74.3cm × d 4.5cm More details

Clothes make the man, so too in Indonesia. These are not actual portraits, but types. In addition to revealing the region these men come from, the meticulously painted clothes and batik motifs also provide information about their rank and status. These proud, confident figures are unusual: in Western pictures, Indonesians were usually portrayed as hostile, subservient or as unspoilt savages.

On display in room 1.17

Collections with this work

National Treasury

Imam Hibatullah

May 26 2023 - 250 works 754 4

faces

twanjanssen

4 days ago - 1,434 works 3558 33