Lot 066
JEIHAN SUKMANTORO
b. Indonesia, 1938
A FAMILY, 1967
Signed and dated (lower right)
Oil on canvas
85cm x 65cm
PROVENANCE
Private collection, Indonesia. From the previous collection of
Mr. Hendra Hadiprana.
LITERATURE
Mengenang Lintas Seni, Hendra Hadiprana, Galeri
Hadiprana, Jakarta, 2002; illustrated in colour, page 12.
ESTIMATE RM 5,000 - 8,000
PRICE REALISED RM 7,326.80
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One artist who has a close friendship with Hendra Hadiprana is Jeihan. In several occasions, the painter has also mentioned how Hadiprana has been great mentor to him.
Jeihan Sukmantoro is one of several Bandung painters who despite the dominant abstract art tendency in the 1960s, has always been living and working outside the atmosphere of the art academy of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and producing works in a more figurative manner. In his ouvre, he has been actively exploring the use of minimal lines and colours on contrast with the emphasis of space and emptiness. Consequently, his figures are depicted with strong black outlines juxtaposed against big empty fields of a few colours.
The present lot offers a rather different and unique piece of Jeihan’s work. The painter who is renowned for his solitary female figure compositions, presents in this painting an intimate family portrait depicting a scene of a mother and a father holding their little child in their arms.
Many believe that eyes are windows to the soul. However, Jeihan’s figures are notable for the absence of the details of their eyes, which are reduced to two black holes. Interestingly, despite their absence, the characters of his figures are significantly present and their emotions are powerfully felt, as conveyed in this painting. From the little girl’s black eyes, her naivety and sweetness is reflected. In addition, despite the parent’s closed eyes the painter also manages to brilliantly portray their warm love for the little girl. Jeihan’s rendering of the figures are notably significant too. They all contribute to the successful creation of this piece in portraying the warmness and intimacy of the family. This unique work bears evidence to Jeihan’s undeniable mastery in portraitures.
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