Dullah, Kakek Merokok, 1986

Oil on canvas
35 x 30 cm (visible), 51.5 x 46.5 x 3 cm (framed)
Condition: Very good

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Dullah (Indonesian, 1919-1996)) was a celebrated painter born in Surakarta (Solo), Central Java, best known for his mastery of realist painting. He studied under influential Indonesian artists including Affandi and S. Sudjojono, but developed his own distinctive naturalistic style that encompassed portraits, landscapes and scenes of everyday life. Dullah played an important role in documenting Indonesia’s struggle for independence through his art, and in the 1950s he served as the official palace painter and curator of the presidential art collection under President Sukarno. During this period he coordinated the publication of Sukarno’s private art collection catalogue.

Beyond his work in the capital, Dullah was also a committed educator and cultural organiser. He was a founder of the Himpunan Budaya Surakarta (Surakarta Cultural Association) and later established a realist painting workshop in Bali, mentoring a generation of young artists. In 1988 he founded the Museum Dullah in Surakarta to preserve and exhibit his extensive body of work. Widely regarded as one of Indonesia’s leading realist painters, his work reflects deep engagement with his nation’s history, people and landscape.

(Photographed in January 2026)