Tactile Relief - Javanese Dancer (Raden Mas Jodjana)

Description and Manual

Isaac Israëls Javanese Dancer (Raden Mas Jodjana) 1921 Oil on canvas 153 by 108 Tactile relief

This room centers on individuals. Here we focus on the Javanese Dancer, a painting by Isaac Israëls from 1921. Painted in the familiar loose painting style of Israëls. The painting is located on the front of the cabinet. There is a tactile relief on the side. You can touch it on the wall.

Viewed from below, one-third of the image plane is occupied by the representation of the floor. It is not clear whether it is a tile floor or a rug. In any case, they are large beige surfaces that are diagonally crossed by red lines.

The dancer sits cross-legged, squarely in the middle of the image: legs spread apart, knees flat on the ground and bare feet crossed on top of each other.

In the background, there is a gamelan orchestra. A gamelan orchestra consists of percussion instruments, a drum and a xylophone. One of the women plays a double flute, another plays a percussion instrument, and someone on the far right of the painting is beating a drum.

The dancer is dressed in a blue and yellow outfit consisting of a pair of pants and a short-sleeved top. He wears a scarf with lots of green. His left hand is placed on his side and his right hand is placed forward on the floor. On his head is a golden headdress. Behind his head is what looks like a gold-coloured pennant. The dancer appears very concentrated, it seems to be a snapshot from just before or after the dance.

The painting has a brownish golden glow and has a nostalgic feel.

The Javanese dancer has been identified as Raden Mas Jodjana. Israëls became friends with him after meeting him in the Netherlands in 1916. Jodjana was not just any dancer. He was married to a Dutch pianist and lived from his dancing, paintings and sculptures. During his stay in France, established an international network of intellectuals.

Text by Fleur Brom, museum teacher at the Van Abbemuseum.