Studie van Pakoeboewono X, tiende Soesoehoenan van Surakarta c. 1897 - 1898

Editor: Here we have a fascinating ink drawing titled "Studie van Pakoeboewono X, tiende Soesoehoenan van Surakarta," or "Study of Pakubuwono X, tenth Susuhunan of Surakarta" made around 1897 by Nicolaas van der Waay. I’m struck by the artist’s attention to detail, especially the intricate patterns in the fabric, and there's also a real economy in line. What really intrigues me is the sense of both formality and intimacy; how do you read that? Curator: You know, it's interesting you pick up on that tension. The artist, van der Waay, manages to capture not just the regalia, the symbols of power of Pakoeboewono X, but also something… I don't know, approachable, perhaps? I see it in the casual inclusion of separate studies of his face and in his notations about what I assume are the colors and textures of the attire. It’s as if he's inviting us into his creative process, as if he is whispering “imagine!” What about that slightly off-kilter hat...is it pompous, or simply human? Editor: The hat… I’m not sure! It gives him personality. So is the informality simply a byproduct of the sketch process? Or is something else going on? Curator: Good question. Maybe van der Waay found a quiet defiance, subtly resisting the rigid demands of formal portraiture to find an individual amidst the weight of tradition? I'm sure Pakoeboewono X needed to balance tradition with reform in an ever changing world. This drawing feels very ‘of the moment,’ if you know what I mean? Editor: That resonates, I think. The artist acknowledging, even celebrating, the humanity within the role. I like that tension between the monumental and the human. It's a fresh way of looking at a historical figure. Curator: Precisely. And isn't it delightful when a "simple sketch" opens up such vistas?