Featured Today's auction: Balinese dancer by Hofker

You all know Willem Gerard Hofker, because he is the painter of my avatar picture.

This 1938 painting, called "Ni Sadri, Legong Klandis", is expected to fetch a record price for a Hofker painting at today's auction in Middelburg, The Netherlands.
It has that Hofker mood I love, comtemplative grace in warm tones.

Asian bidders are checking their bank balance as we speak, but many here in the Netherlands hope it will stay in the country as a beautiful example of Dutch colonial art.
The highest price for a Hofker painting so far was 650,000 euro. Peanuts compared to what some people pay for non-art nowadays, but this is real art and a beauty.

The sitter was a famous young Legong dancer called Ni Sadri, one of Hofker's favourite models.
She was only allowed to take her sacred headdress out of the temple after Hofker paid an offering to the Gods.



If you would like to know more about the painting, here is the auctioneer's booklet in English, with interesting background information:
https://zeeuwsveilinghuis.nl/wp-con...ofker-booklet-Ni-Sadri-Zeeuws-Veilinghuis.pdf

And information on the legong dance:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legong

 

What a beautiful painting. I'm curious to see what it will bring. Thanks for sharing, AJ!

 

I will let you know. It is all over the news here.

 

The Indonesian English language newspaper The Jakarta Post even posted an article about the auction:

https://www.thejakartapost.com/cult...ch-painter-hofker-to-go-under-the-hammer.html

 

Such a BEAUTIFUL portrait, @Any Jewelry!! As well as your avatar!!! Thank you for sharing as well!!

 

Update:
She didn't break the record of 650,000 euro for a Hofker painting, but she did nicely, and well over the estimate: 590,000 euro!

https://connect.invaluable.com/zeeu...ofker-1902-1981-ni-sadri-legong-kl_E714C079BF

I don't know where she will go. I hope she'll stay here, but I think she'll go to Asia.

 

Wowza! Thx for the update

 

Hey she looks just like you!
Thanks for sharing. The leaflet was well photographed and packed with info.
Very interesting

 

an avatar change would keep her close to you.....and us......

 

It would, but my current avatar has a Javanese style crown, which is closer to my heritage. Mind you, I did have a very Balinese girl as my first avatar, my own little dancer, Bali Art Deco.

OK, I'll think about it.

 

u change yrs...I'll change mine !!
just fer......y'know.......kix..

 

I understand why somebody shelled out for that lady.

 

I was admiring your beautiful Portrait of the Balinese Dancer ("Ni Sadri")
I decided to do some Editing and to try and improve both images that you had as illustrations --- just to see if I could bring out the beautiful Brush-Strokes of the Artist that are in Original Painting. And here are the results of my humble efforts. I hope you like it.

 

If you can just "Click" on the Arrow --- at the TOP RIGHT-HAND CORNER of you Screen ---(which says... "SHOW in ORIGINAL LOCATION") --- you can see both of these Images in a LARGE Format --- and better appreciate the Rich Details that are in this Painting.