Busts of Elderly Men and Women

Bust of an elderly man, first half of the 20th century, 27 cm

Although less popular than busts of young men or women, busts of the elderly appear to have been produced in significant numbers during the first half of the 20th century. The most refined pieces date from this period. Male busts seem to have enjoyed slightly more success - or at least, among the productions of this era, they are easier to find today than female busts.

As is often the case in modern Balinese sculpture, artists prioritized the search for a specific "type." Consequently, the faces exhibit fairly similar features, with subtle variations that, in the finest examples, can lend a relative singularity to the figure. However, compared to busts depicting younger subjects, those representing the elderly occupy a more directly expressive register: the bones visible beneath the skin, along with the folds and wrinkles, mark the passage of time. The faces convey a certain wisdom - a peaceful or amused outlook on existence.

Bust of an elderly woman, first half of the 20th century, 22 cm

These two busts demonstrate a keen observation of volume and form. The headdresses (lelunakan for the woman, udeng for the man), the wrinkles, the locks of hair, and the mustache on the male bust are all rendered with meticulous care.

The male bust is carved from a heavy wood with a beautiful honey hue. A very similar bust in dark wood can be found in the collections of the Tropenmuseum. Dated prior to 1939 (reference TM-1284-3), the latter was likely produced in the same workshop as the one featured here.

Bust of an elderly man, prior to 1939, Tropenmuseum collection (reference TM-1284-3), image licensed under Creative Commons

Smaller but of comparable quality, the female bust is carved from a light, pale wood. Following the method used for most busts produced during this period, the wood was covered with a dark brown patina. The carver chose a nuanced application, preserving lightness in certain areas to emphasize the relief.