Ploughing the Sawah 

Basuki Abdullah created this painting titled, Ploughing the Sawah, showing a farmer with two water buffalo working the land. Abdullah was celebrated for his portraits of elites, but here, he turns his attention to rural life in Indonesia. This is a scene deeply rooted in the cultural and economic landscape of Indonesia, where rice cultivation in sawah, or flooded fields, is a staple. Abdullah's work offers insight into how labor, land, and tradition intertwine to shape identity and community. The farmer could represent a figure of resilience, who maintains a connection to the land, and the two water buffalo represent an idea of labor within an agrarian society. Abdullah lived through a period of significant political change, including the Indonesian National Revolution. His artistic choices reflect a negotiation between tradition and modernity, and address how national identity is constructed and represented. The emotional power of this painting is found in the way it invites viewers to reflect on the relationship between humans and nature, and the value of the hard work that sustains communities.