Overview: Art in Indonesia 

The art and culture of Indonesia have been shaped by interactions between original indigenous customs and multiple foreign influences. Indonesia is centrally located along ancient trading routes between the Far East, South Asia, and the Middle East, resulting in art and paintings that are strongly influenced by a multitude of religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, and Christianity. 

Indonesian Painting Before the 19th Century

Indonesian painting before the 19th century was mostly restricted to the decorative arts, considered to be a religious and spiritual activity. Artists' names were often anonymous, as the individual human creator was seen as far less important than his creation to honor the deities or spirits. Notable artwork includes the mural paintings on the long houses of the Kenyah people of Borneo, which are based on endemic natural motifs such as ferns and hornbills. Other traditional art includes the geometric wood carvings of the Toraja people of South Sulawesi. 

Kenyah mural paintings

Kenyah mural painting in Long Nawang, East Kalimantan.

There is a tradition of Balinese painting that uses narrative imagery to depict scenes from Balinese legends and religious scripts. These classical paintings can usually be found in Indonesian lontar or palm-leaf manuscripts and on the ceilings of Balinese temples.

Indonesian Painting After the 19th Century

Under the influence of the Dutch colonial power, a trend toward Western style painting emerged in the 19th century. In the Netherlands, the term "Indonesian Painting" is often applied to the paintings produced by Dutch or other foreign artists who lived and worked in the former Netherlands-Indies. The most famous indigenous 19th century Indonesian painter is Raden Saleh (1807–1877), who was also the first indigenous artist to study in Europe. His art is heavily influenced by Romanticism. 

The Arrest of Pangeran Diponegoro by Raden Saleh

Raden Saleh was perhaps the most famous indigenous 19th century Indonesian painter, and his work is heavily influenced by Romanticism and his training in Europe. 

The 1920s to 1940s was a time of growing nationalism in Indonesia. The previous period of romanticism was not seen as a purely Indonesian movement and began to wane, and painters began to turn to the natural world for inspiration. Some examples of Indonesian painters during this period are the Balinese Ida Bagus Made and the realist Basuki Abdullah. The Indonesian Painters Association (or PERSAGI, 1938–1942) was formed during this period and established a contemporary art philosophy that saw art as a reflection of the artist’s individual views, as well as an expression of national cultural thoughts. During the 1960s, new elements were added when abstract expressionism and Islamic art began to be absorbed by the art community. The national identity of Indonesia was stressed by painters through the use of a realistic, documentary style.