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Realism
Balinese sculptures reflecting a concern for fidelity to an observed reality


What Makes a Fine Bust?
A Balinese couple: young woman by I Wayan Gog, 30 cm; young man by I Made Pait, 36,5 cm, 1930s–1940s, private collection Balinese busts have been among the most cherished souvenirs for visitors to the island since the 1930s. And it is undeniably in the first half of the 20th century that the finest pieces were produced—whether busts of women, men, young or old, or janger (or djanger) dancer busts with their wide headdresses decorated with floral motifs. Figures of young adult


A Small Reclining Woman
Reclining Woman, first half of the 20th century, 25 x 12.8 cm, private collection Sleep is a recurring motif in modern Balinese sculpture. It is the central theme of reclining figures set against a flat background, as illustrated by this example. These figures often appear in pairs: a sleeping man and a sleeping woman, the latter sometimes accompanied by a child. They seem to have been popular between the 1930s and 1960s. They can be found in the wayang style as well as in a
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