Affandi

Gifted from the artist to the late Mr. Ali Sadikin
Private Collection, Indonesia

This work is in good overall condition as viewed. There is some very light cracking to areas of very thick impasto, only visible upon very close inspection, but this is consistent with the age of the work. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals some signs of restoration primarily at the bottom left corner. There are some tiny spots of minor restoration along the bottom edge and the center of the top edge. 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.
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Much has been admired and said of Affandi’s expressionistic-inspired artworks. The artist’s signature use of painting with his hands and select color palette of reds, yellows, greens, and browns, all create a specific ambience within the paintings. There is a distinct identity that exists in the artworks, and it can be implied that it is the artist’s own enthusiasm for his environment, that instills in each painting a certain gravitas which resonates with the audience.

In the present work entitled The Bridge, the arresting formulation of colors paired with the expressive brushstrokes all serve to communicate the living energy of the natural landscape that has been rebirthed in the canvas. What may have been a quiet and serene scene has been redefined with Affandi’s visual vocabulary as a world that is rich with its own personality, impossible to silence within the two-dimensional frame it now inhabits.

The artist has referred to himself as the Indonesian Van Gogh. Though this comment may have been said in jest, there is a distinct correlation between the Indonesian painter and the French artist. Notably in both artists’ stylistic thick brushstrokes that instill in their paintings a certain emotion that underlines the overall narrative. This similarity is evident in The Bridge. Though the environment may be an Indonesian scene, the pressure applied to the brushstrokes and the dynamic play of colors are reminiscent of his doppelganger’s impressionist works.

Affandi believed whole heartedly in the common man, and it was in his paintings that these individuals shared their stories and experienced a kinship with the Indonesian landscape. The present work may be viewed as a universal look at the natural world, for gardens symbolize growth and prosperity. Like the flora and fauna that need sunlight to prevail, human beings also require sunlight for survival.

The Bridge perfectly conveys Affandi’s artistic integrity and the choice themes that he favored in his body of works. By having the landscape be the focal point of the artwork, and thereby embracing the natural environment as a metaphor for human connections, he is ultimately unifying his internal beliefs with an external audience. It is a relationship founded on artistic reciprocity and respect.