Arthur Eland, Menanam Padi, Undated

Oil on canvas
50.4 x 70.5 cm (visible), 63 x 83 x 4.5 cm (framed)
Condition: Very good

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Arthur Eland (Dutch, 1884–1948) was a painter best known for his atmospheric landscapes and coastal scenes, many of which were inspired by his time in the Dutch East Indies and beyond. He was born in Salatiga on the island of Java, where he and his twin brother Leo were raised as sons of a Royal Netherlands East Indies Army officer. Although Arthur did not pursue art as intensively as his brother, he nonetheless developed his skill in painting and drawing, producing works that reflect both the light and tranquillity of the landscapes he encountered. Eland’s paintings often feature lush Indonesian settings, rice paddies, volcanic backdrops, kampongs, and harbour views, rendered with loose, impressionistic brushwork and a subtle, harmonious palette that emphasises atmosphere and depth.

During the early 20th century, Eland exhibited his work alongside other European artists in the Dutch East Indies and later in Europe. While his brother Leo became more widely known, Arthur’s body of work still illustrates a strong personal vision rooted in the natural and cultural environments he observed. After leaving the Indies in the 1920s, Eland spent much of his later life in the Netherlands, though he continued to draw on memories and sketches from his travels to produce evocative landscapes and coastal scenes. His works have continued to appear in auction houses, where they are appreciated for their beauty, impressionistic style and connection to the era of European artists engaging with Southeast Asian subject matter.

(Photographed in January 2026)