WANITA BERKACAMATA (LADY WITH SUNGLASSES)

As early as the 1950s, Affandi had already developed his own technique of applying paint directly from the paint tube onto the canvas, which gave his works unique and expressionistic qualities that are widely recognized today. By using his fingers, palms, wrists, and the back of his hands, Affandi freely explored and spontaneously poured his emotions and those of his subjects onto the canvas. Though Affandi's early figurative works comprised mostly of self-portraits and portraits of his family, Affandi's keen interest in presenting the sophisticated expressions and complex emotions of human beings led him to continuously paint human figures.

The present lot, Wanita Berkacamata (Lady With Sunglasses) (Lot 339) is a superlative piece dated to 1963 during which Affandi traveled extensively to America. The 1960s is considered a prime period of artistic maturation for Affandi, having refined his ability to maintain a coherent structure for his figures amidst the disarray of lines and his vibrant use of colours. The central figure depicted in the present lot, close to life-size and filling the frame of the canvas can be perceived as a characteristic rendering of Affandi's single-figure portraits. Clearly identifiable through her modern and Western appearance, the woman represents the indelible impression that Western culture had on Affandi during his first visit to America. True to form, Affandi captures and filters the distinctive material signifiers of Western culture through his inimitable artistic vision.