1766 Cirebon Wayang Batik Tulis Indonesian Hindu Art Mahabharat

A Cirebon Wayang Batik Tulis with the subject of 'Pandavas negotiating with Kauravas'

This is a scene from the Mahabharat in which the Pandavas and Kauravas engage in a devastating war. The fight is for righteousness and has lessons in duty, alliances and righteous living.

In this artwork we see Pandavas negotiating with the Kauravas.

[As narrated by the wife of the artist: the narration of Hindu epics such as the Mahabharat is common in Cirebon

The Pandewa and Kauravas were given orders by Batara Guru (probably Shiva) atop Nandi to settle their disputes.

Semar the trickster and his sons, interfere by sowing more discord with the Kauravas through the secret orders given by Batara Guru.]

Note the detail provided in the scene and in each of the characters depicted here.

Note the clothes, the hairstyles and the facial expressions.

The depiction of the clouds (mega mendung) is typical of the batiks of Cirebon in Java, Indonesia.

This fabulous work has been hand-drawn as a wall artwork. This is not art for the sake of art but one with a cultural story. The master has poured out his creativity and paid great attention to the details and to the balance of the visual.

A legendary work using  a fine instrument (chanting 0). This art of Pak Tomik lives on through his work.

Size: 105 x 268cm approx / 32 figures

Perfect as a wall artwork

Made in the 1970s-1990s

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