Abu Bakar Ibrahim, Farmers with Oxen in Fields, Undated
Watercolour on paper
25 x 35 cm (visible), 39.5 x 48.5 x 2 cm (framed)
Condition: Very good
Proof of Purchase available
Acquired from Dickins Auctioneers in 2019.
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A. B. Ibrahim (Malaysian, 1925–1977) was a self-taught painter and one of the pioneers of Malaysian watercolour painting. A founding member of the Persatuan Pelukis Melayu Malaya (Society of Malay Artists, Malaya), he was instrumental in promoting Malay art in the years following the Second World War. Best known for his naturalistic depictions of kampung life, paddy fields, rivers, and rural landscapes, his paintings are characterised by luminous colour, confident brushwork, and an acute sensitivity to atmosphere.
In 1946, Ibrahim co-founded the Warna Art Studio in Alor Setar, where he supported himself through the sale of his watercolours while actively exhibiting throughout Malaya. His works introduced fresh perspectives to familiar rural subjects, balancing documentary observation with artistic refinement. Today, his paintings are held in major public collections, including the National Art Gallery, the Kedah State Art Gallery, and the Kedah Royal Museum, and he is regarded as one of the earliest artists to establish watercolour as a significant medium in Malaysian art.
(Photographed in July 2026)