Affandi, Mother and Child (Anaku Dan Ibuku), 1969

Oil pastel and watercolour on paper
51 x 39.5 cm (visible), 65.5 x 56.5 x 2.5 cm (framed)
Condition: Good. consistent with the age of the work. Reframing is advised.

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Affandi (Indonesian, b. 1907) is regarded as one of the leading figures of Indonesian modern art. Largely self-taught, he left formal schooling early and supported himself with various jobs, including work as a teacher, cinema ticket collector, and poster painter. These early experiences shaped his understanding of visual communication and enabled him to pursue painting with limited resources, often saving leftover materials from his commercial work.

By the 1950s he had developed the expressive style for which he became widely known, applying paint directly from the tube and manipulating it with his hands to create dynamic, emotionally charged compositions. His works frequently portray ordinary people, landscapes, and scenes of daily life, emphasising human struggle and dignity. Over the course of his career he produced a large and influential body of work, and his former home and studio in Yogyakarta now operate as the Affandi Museum, which preserves his artistic legacy.

Acquired from a collector in Indonesia.

(Photographed in November 2025)