Willem Gerard Hofker

Private Collection, Singapore

Bruce Carpenter (a.o.), Willem Hofker 1902-1981: Schilder van/Painter of Bali, Wijk en Aalburg, 1993, p. 40 (illustrated in color)

Seline Hofker and Gianni Orsini, Willem Gerard Hofker, Uitgeverij de Kunst, 2013, fig. 362, p. 231

This work is in very good overall condition as viewed. There is evidence of light wear and some paint loss at edges and corners due to abrasions with the frame, but this is hidden by the frame and does not affect the overall image. The paint layers are healthy overall. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals only one very small area of retouching at the bottom right corner (at black pigment). Framed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

"This distinguished elderly man with his elegant white headcloth and proud countenance was a pemangku priest in Klandis Kedaton, who posed for Willem Hofker several times"

- Bruce Carpenter (a.o.), Willem Hofker 1902-1981: Schilder van/Painter of Bali, Wijk en Aalburg, 1993, p. 40

As part of the league of travelling painters, Dutch-Indonesian artist Willem Gerard Hofker was also revered for his depictions of foreign countries and their inhabitants. Pemangku translates to the ‘Priest of the Temple’, with Klandis Kedaton as a certain location in Bali. The sitter in the painting was a man of prestigious status and well-respected in the community. As a portrait of one of the most important people on the island, the present lot could also be deciphered as a reaffirmation of Hofker’s artistry, further establishing the artist’s reputation.