Cultural icon Hendra Gunawan, often deemed a maestro of modern art in Indonesia, has long been praised for his distinctive representations of the country and skillful ability to express a fresh identity in art. Hendra’s works vividly capture snapshots of an array of subjects endemic to the archipelagic region, including unconventional and exaggerated figures of village women going about their daily tasks. His unusual illustrations and use of primal colors have become instantly recognizable signatures of his artistry. This season, Sotheby’s is pleased to present Jackfruit Seller (Lot 1045) for auction – a rare exemplar from his storied career that captures the essence of the painter best known for his humanistic portrayals of circadian life in Indonesia.

Painted in 1958, Jackfruit Seller is an early period work, characterized by its subtle palette and rhythmic depiction of subject matter. It is important to note that works from this foundational era rarely surface in the market. As seen in Jackfruit Seller, Gunawan focuses sharply on portraying vignettes of rural existence and elevating ordinary characters to numinous creatures. A magnificent celebration of life’s circadian rituals, the present work depicts a candid market scene, an archetypal theme that would enrapture the artist throughout his lifetime.

This spectacular composition reveals Hendra’s adulation of the women that perpetuate the traditions of his country and hold a synergetic rapport with their native land. Garbed in traditional attire and sarongs embellished with floral and batik patterns, the subjects represent their nation. A mark of Indonesian culture and indigenous pride, batik is the artist’s most favorite and dear motif, almost always included in his paintings as a perennial embodiment of his motherland. By documenting the reality of rural existence, Hendra pays homage to the cultural heritage of his beautiful nation, Indonesia.

亨德拉·古拿溫被公認為印尼現代藝術大師，他運用獨特而高超的藝術技巧，表達一種全新的國族文化身份，因而一直廣受讚譽。古拿溫的畫作生動地展現這個群島國家的多元化面貌，包括形象風格化的村婦日常勞動的情景；殊異的畫面和大量原色是其作品的標誌。今季蘇富比榮幸呈獻《賣菠蘿蜜》（拍品編號1045）——古拿溫傳奇的創作生涯中一幅珍稀傑作，他擅於以人文精神描繪日出而作、日入而息的印尼生活，這幅作品正好捕捉其中的精髓。

《賣菠蘿蜜》繪於1958年，從含蓄細膩的色調和充滿韻律的描繪判斷，屬於藝術家的早期作品。值得注意的是，市面流傳古拿溫的早年畫作極少。畫面所見，古拿溫集中描繪農村的生活片段，將平凡百姓昇華至精神上值得崇敬的人物。此作歌頌生命的自然規律，而畫中市場小販叫賣的場景，正是讓藝術家一生著迷的創作主題。

這幅精美的作品揭示古拿溫對女性打從心底的欽佩，她們固守印尼的傳統，與鄉土建立協調融洽的關係。畫中女子身穿印有蠟染花卉圖案的傳統紗籠，代表她們的國家。蠟染是印尼的文化標誌，是當地引以自豪的技藝，古拿溫最喜歡以蠟染印花圖案入畫，不斷以作品體現祖國的文化。古拿溫透過繪畫記錄農村的寫實生活，向尚在其美麗家鄉印尼傳承的文化遺產致敬