Lot 40: HENDRIK PAULIDES (The Netherlands 1892-1967)

Village road; Country road;
House porch; Water palace Tampaksiring;
Temple gate; Landscape with yard;
Altar yard; Landscape
(Water palace Tampaksiring) signed with initials 'HP' (lower left); signed with initials 'HP' (lower right) for the others
watercolour on paper
14 7/8 x 11 3/4 in. (38 x 30 cm.); 14 1/2 x 12 1/8 in. (37 x 31 cm.); 14 1/8 x 11 3/4 in. (36 x 30 cm.); 11 3/4 x 14 1/8 in. (30 x 36 cm.); 14 1/8 x 12 1/8 in. (36 x 31 cm.); 15 3/8 x 11 3/4 in. (39 x 30 cm.); 14 1/8 x 11 3/4 in. (36 x 30 cm.); 10 1/4 x 15 3/4 in. (26 x 40 cm.) (8)

Peter E.M. Hammann, Hendrik Paulides: Pelukis dan Dalang, Photo Asia, Singapore, 1997, (illustrated in colour, p. 134, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147).

Acquired directly from the family of the artist.

VARIOUS PROPERTIES

Hendrik Paulides was an artist of great calibre. With his monumental approach and his expressive symbolistic style, he sought to penetrate the soul of the people. Although he travelled to the East Indies only twice, he succeeded in portraying the real Balinese and Javanese only a few others were able to. He painted their very essence in strong lines even though it must have been difficult not to lose himself in the superficial beauty of his subjects.

In his long life, Paulides went through several artistic stages all of which were primarily influenced by the art deco movement and by his travel to Indonesia. This seemingly incompatible combination worked out well for Paulides'. While, initially, the strong graphic overtones of decorative art prevailed, Paulides gradually developed a more open, painterly style of his own.

Because East Indian subjects were his main interest Paulides was not widely known in his land of birth, despite his fantastic murals in the Tropen Museum, Amsterdam. On the other hand, he was highly respected among his contemporaries. As one of the most important artists of his generation, Paulides fills the gap between Toorop and Rooskens, between Thorn Prikker and Brandts. However, his art defies categorization, for just like Willink's metaphysical paintings, Paulides' work occupies a place of its own.

Only a short time ago, one of the leading museums in this field, the Royal Tropical Instituut (Tropen Museum, Amsterdam) bought 16 watercolours and drawings of Paulides, all in similar reference to the murals in the building.

Joyce van Fenema
Art editor, Singapore

Christie's wishes to thank Joyce van Fenema for her writing of the catalogue entry for the present lot.