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拍品专文
“The Javanese are beautiful, you have to come and see them. [...] I am constantly spinning my head and hands in the Javanese fashion and am thinking about tandakken and alang alang” – Isaac Israëls
Christie’s is proud to present one of the earliest portraits of Raden Mas Jodjana by the celebrated impressionist Dutch painter Isaac Israëls in this spring auction. The current lot is an important painting that marked the start of Israëls close friendship with the dancer and also his continuous exploration and admiration of East-Indies culture which he later portrayed passionately through his canvases. Most early portraits of Raden Mas Jodjana are collected by institutions in the Netherlands, marking this as an extremely rare piece to be offered in the market.
EARLY ENCOUNTER TO JAVANESE TRADITION
A son of Netherlands most celebrated artist from The Hague School, Jozef Israëls, Isaac Israëls showed early artistic promise from the tender age of 6 years old. A prodigy as well as a self-taught painter, Israels began his artistic career by sketching the models who posed at his father’s studio. He eventually developed a style that was not only unique, and different from his father’s style, but also had little in common with The Hague School artists at the time. Israëls art education continued with his enrollment in the Academy of The Hague in 1878. His artistic debut at the Salon des Artistes Francais in Paris in 1882 began an illustrious career with his works being sought after internationally.
Throughout his artistic journey, Isaac Israëls firmly regarded as one of the greatest painters to immortalize Indonesia on canvas. It sparked after attending the Nationale Tentoonstelling van Vrouwenarbeid (National Exhibition of Women's Labour) exhibition in The Hague in 1898. The exhibition was organized to cultivate opportunities for networking between female workers, and also to celebrate the coronation of Queen Wilhelmina. This exhibition included a dedicated section to showcase the daily life in the Dutch East Indies. Enchanted by the beauty in the simplicity and deep culture, Israëls’ subjects became almost exclusively the Indonesian dancers, musicians and everyday Javanese living in The Hague after his visit to the exhibition. Raden Mas Jodjana later on became a living example and symbol of Israëls’ fascination and passion towards Javanese tradition. His Indonesian works are among the highlights of his oeuvre and are very sought after.
A MUSE AND A DEAR FRIEND
Israëls and Jodjana’s friendship flourished in the winter of 1916 where Israëls attended a charity event "Indian Art Nights" of Indonesian music and dancing, which was also attended by the Dutch Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry. Among the traditional dancers was Raden Mas Jodjana, who was the first professional Javanese performer who permanently lived in Europe and later on became a celebrated dancer. After their first meeting, Israëls invited Jodjana to pose for him in his studio, and in return he gave Jodjana painting lessons which was exceptionally rare for Israëls to offer. As a result, many portraits of Jodjana were produced by the artist, however very rarely were they as singularly large as the current lot presented here. It is also because of this friendship that Israel was inspired and finally able to fulfil his ambition to visit the Dutch East Indies later on in 1921, where he experienced first-hand the sights and cultures of Indonesia, a world far removed from the trappings of European extravagance.
Standing in front of the great painter, Jodjana posed for the first time in a full traditional costume of Gatot Kaca, one of the character from the Mahabarata epoch. In the present lot, Jodjana is seen anchored fearlessly in the centre of the canvas in stillness, adorned with the glorious head piece and other brass accessories, completed with drapes of different batik clothes around his waist while holding a long spear on his left hand. Jodjana is seen getting into character, dedicated and free from all other distractions. The bareness of the background is unassuming – it beautifully complements and at the same time emphasises the complexity of the traditional costume worn by Jodjana.
Capturing his subject matter with ease and confidence, Israëls’ broad and gestural brushstrokes carefully form Jodjana’s figure and facial expression. This also signifies the intense emotion of the artist towards his muse accentuating as well his remarkable understanding of human anatomy. The subtle highlights on the surface of Jodjana’s bare skin and attire demonstrate Israel’s sensitivity towards the rendition of light and at the same time creates depth and a sense of space toward the piece. It is clear to see that, with this work, Israëls was successfully exemplifying the medium's expressive potential. Believing that his works should not deliver any messages beyond their visual experience, Portrait of Raden Mas Jodjana presents a striking immediacy and purity of expression.
Acquired directly from the artist by the family of the present owner, Portrait of Raden Mas Jodjana is an extremely rare and personal piece from the artist. The piece offers an honest and intimate outlook between the two friends. At the same time, it showcases Israëls’ strong admiration towards both Jodjana and his culture and heritage. Without a doubt, Portrait of Raden Mas Jodjana is an exquisite homage to Jodjana’s extraordinary dedication to his craft, which corresponds to a remark made by the renowned critic Henri Borel on one of the performances done by Jodjana: 'Never before have had I experienced such a pure, spiritual art of music, dance and theatre in Europe.'
Christie’s is proud to present one of the earliest portraits of Raden Mas Jodjana by the celebrated impressionist Dutch painter Isaac Israëls in this spring auction. The current lot is an important painting that marked the start of Israëls close friendship with the dancer and also his continuous exploration and admiration of East-Indies culture which he later portrayed passionately through his canvases. Most early portraits of Raden Mas Jodjana are collected by institutions in the Netherlands, marking this as an extremely rare piece to be offered in the market.
EARLY ENCOUNTER TO JAVANESE TRADITION
A son of Netherlands most celebrated artist from The Hague School, Jozef Israëls, Isaac Israëls showed early artistic promise from the tender age of 6 years old. A prodigy as well as a self-taught painter, Israels began his artistic career by sketching the models who posed at his father’s studio. He eventually developed a style that was not only unique, and different from his father’s style, but also had little in common with The Hague School artists at the time. Israëls art education continued with his enrollment in the Academy of The Hague in 1878. His artistic debut at the Salon des Artistes Francais in Paris in 1882 began an illustrious career with his works being sought after internationally.
Throughout his artistic journey, Isaac Israëls firmly regarded as one of the greatest painters to immortalize Indonesia on canvas. It sparked after attending the Nationale Tentoonstelling van Vrouwenarbeid (National Exhibition of Women's Labour) exhibition in The Hague in 1898. The exhibition was organized to cultivate opportunities for networking between female workers, and also to celebrate the coronation of Queen Wilhelmina. This exhibition included a dedicated section to showcase the daily life in the Dutch East Indies. Enchanted by the beauty in the simplicity and deep culture, Israëls’ subjects became almost exclusively the Indonesian dancers, musicians and everyday Javanese living in The Hague after his visit to the exhibition. Raden Mas Jodjana later on became a living example and symbol of Israëls’ fascination and passion towards Javanese tradition. His Indonesian works are among the highlights of his oeuvre and are very sought after.
A MUSE AND A DEAR FRIEND
Israëls and Jodjana’s friendship flourished in the winter of 1916 where Israëls attended a charity event "Indian Art Nights" of Indonesian music and dancing, which was also attended by the Dutch Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry. Among the traditional dancers was Raden Mas Jodjana, who was the first professional Javanese performer who permanently lived in Europe and later on became a celebrated dancer. After their first meeting, Israëls invited Jodjana to pose for him in his studio, and in return he gave Jodjana painting lessons which was exceptionally rare for Israëls to offer. As a result, many portraits of Jodjana were produced by the artist, however very rarely were they as singularly large as the current lot presented here. It is also because of this friendship that Israel was inspired and finally able to fulfil his ambition to visit the Dutch East Indies later on in 1921, where he experienced first-hand the sights and cultures of Indonesia, a world far removed from the trappings of European extravagance.
Standing in front of the great painter, Jodjana posed for the first time in a full traditional costume of Gatot Kaca, one of the character from the Mahabarata epoch. In the present lot, Jodjana is seen anchored fearlessly in the centre of the canvas in stillness, adorned with the glorious head piece and other brass accessories, completed with drapes of different batik clothes around his waist while holding a long spear on his left hand. Jodjana is seen getting into character, dedicated and free from all other distractions. The bareness of the background is unassuming – it beautifully complements and at the same time emphasises the complexity of the traditional costume worn by Jodjana.
Capturing his subject matter with ease and confidence, Israëls’ broad and gestural brushstrokes carefully form Jodjana’s figure and facial expression. This also signifies the intense emotion of the artist towards his muse accentuating as well his remarkable understanding of human anatomy. The subtle highlights on the surface of Jodjana’s bare skin and attire demonstrate Israel’s sensitivity towards the rendition of light and at the same time creates depth and a sense of space toward the piece. It is clear to see that, with this work, Israëls was successfully exemplifying the medium's expressive potential. Believing that his works should not deliver any messages beyond their visual experience, Portrait of Raden Mas Jodjana presents a striking immediacy and purity of expression.
Acquired directly from the artist by the family of the present owner, Portrait of Raden Mas Jodjana is an extremely rare and personal piece from the artist. The piece offers an honest and intimate outlook between the two friends. At the same time, it showcases Israëls’ strong admiration towards both Jodjana and his culture and heritage. Without a doubt, Portrait of Raden Mas Jodjana is an exquisite homage to Jodjana’s extraordinary dedication to his craft, which corresponds to a remark made by the renowned critic Henri Borel on one of the performances done by Jodjana: 'Never before have had I experienced such a pure, spiritual art of music, dance and theatre in Europe.'