Reliëf met Boeddhistische goden, mogelijk van de tempel Candi Mendut 1836 - 1858

This is a pencil drawing by Andries Wiemans Cz., likely made in the mid-19th century. It depicts a relief with Buddhist gods, possibly from the Candi Mendut temple. Although the image itself is a simple drawing on paper, it documents intricate relief carvings. These reliefs would have been made through labor-intensive processes of stone carving. Skilled artisans used tools to shape the stone, revealing figures and narratives layer by layer. The stone’s inherent qualities – its weight, texture, and capacity to hold intricate detail – all contribute to the aesthetic impact of the relief. The production of these reliefs involved specialized knowledge and techniques passed down through generations, reflecting a deep social and cultural investment in artistic expression. The drawing gives us an insight into how such cultural artifacts were encountered and documented in the 19th century. It blurs the line between fine art and craft, inviting us to appreciate the skill and cultural value embedded in both the original carvings and the drawing itself.