raden saleh
I'm a big fan of the website EPPH. Sadly, posts aren't so frequent (though honestly so much is in the website that I haven't explored everything). If there aren't going to be any posts in a distant future, I shall make one myself. About Raden Saleh, resurfaced in popularity thanks to that heist movie, the first 'modern' Indonesian artist.
In EPPH fashion (you either check the website first or read what I have to say), I wish to show that what Raden Saleh had painted was not so much of his external world but his self. I shall show that there may be greater depth into his work.
The Arrest of Pangeran Diponegoro
Much has been said of the painting so I'm lazy having to repeat them. Title says it all.
EPPH argues that the artist depicts their self, their internal world, not the exterior world.
It's known already that Saleh has inserted himself in the painting twice: as "a soldier bowing to the captured leader, and as a soldier facing the viewer" (Wikipedia) though honestly, I cannot see it (I haven't read the source yet). I still believe that Saleh really inserted himself, just not under the basis that they simply 'look like him' (they could've been any Javanese men for all we know imo).
Here's where I see Saleh have inserted himself twice.
In Diponegoro. The outline from his left arm sleeves extended to below his entire leg forms an R.
In the man gazing Diponegoro with red turban/cloth(?). The outline starting from the red turban/cloth(?) extended below to his entire leg forms a reverse R.
If there is any ink of truth in this analysis (could be confirmation bias for all we know), I believe it adds greater depth to an already important, historical painting.
Saleh is Diponegoro, the captured, seized Javanese prince. Saleh, too, is the artist admiring his subject that is himself all the while holding a turban. Those familiar with EPPH will know turban is a feature used by artists in old times.
Tigers and Lions
Self-representation is present in his other works. Easiest example is "Wounded Lion". Comparing the lion's face with Saleh's best photograph, it's hard to not see the resemblance (the nose and the eyes) and it's not a coincidence. I bet Saleh's confessing: "I'm the lion; the lion is me".
Was it from the pressure of being a stranger in a foreign land? (He lived in Europe for 20 years) or the struggle of harmony between eastern and western thought inside himself?
"Study of Walking Tiger" too is the same.
Saleh maintained on infusing his facial characteristics into the tiger's face. A closer look at the sketch, at the lower belly, reveals that the tiger is in fact pregnant, not in reality but in the mind. Saleh gives birth literally to new art and ideas.
Out of context: The novel 'Man Tiger' is interesting for Raden Saleh himself was mentioned in the novel. Was Kurniawan aware of Saleh's self-representation?
Now, I must admit for the remaining portion of his work, they remain enigmatic to me or at least my conception of the analysis is fuzzy. But I hope what I have shown is you reveals that Saleh probably deserves a closer look.
For the rest, I'll leave them for you, my readers.