Barli

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

This work is in good overall condition as viewed, and the paint layers are healthy overall. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals areas of restoration, mostly at the center and right side of the work. Framed.
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As a result of the Dutch presence in Indonesia, notably upon local artistic expression, there were two schools of thought that were established amongst Indonesian artists from this foreign influence. A few individuals favoured the Dutch realist painters, finding solace in their appropriation of light and shadows to inspire a certain ambience. Other artists took offense at the beautifying of their country through the lens of the foreigner, thereby creating many nationalistic paintings as a response. Within this debate, however, there were some individuals who agreed with both parties. Barli Sasmitawinata was a painter whose works aptly reflected this blend of cultural ideologies.

The artist cultivated his own style from the Mooi Indie (Beautiful Indies) aesthetics, together with the patriotic motifs that frequented the works of his peers. From 1935 he was part of the Group of Five that also included Affandi, Hendra Gunawan, Wahdi Sumanta and Soedarso. Barli’s realistic paintings with their distinct colors and attention to composition stood out from the other artists. Barli also studied with Dutch artist Jos Pluimmentz and Italian artist Luigi Nobili, and received a scholarship from the Dutch government to live in Europe from 1950 to 1956. These multicultural exchanges all had a direct impact on his paintings.

The work Penjual Ayam (Chicken Seller) is a portrayal of rural activities as seen and experienced by the artist. The depiction of the individuals is not a romanticized version of village life, nor is it a work that celebrates the hard realities of the everyman. The artist has deftly shown in the painting the interaction between three people, and without personal commentary has shared with the audience the intimacy of their exchange and conversation. Throughout his career, Barli remained faithful to portraying the common man in a respectful manner that communicated their pride to be Indonesian.

The one painterly style that Barli did adhere to was the importance of composition, because as per his thinking that human existence was not fair, therefore the narrative of an artwork should be as balanced as possible. Penjual Ayam (Chicken Seller) follows this principle. There is no hierarchy in the painting, and within this world the market vendor and her customers are all given equal platform to share their stories. The artist was also a book illustrator in Bandung, West Java, and this vocation provided him with a greater understanding of human relationships. As one of the Group of Five artists whose paintings left an impression upon the country’s artistic identity, Barli’s career spanned over 80 years and witnessed the changes that came to define Indonesian modern art.