Trubus Soedarsono (b.1926 – d.1966)
Child I, 1956

Oil on hardboard

Created during the height of his artistic maturity around 1956, Child I portrays Sri Rahayu Murtabani, Trubus Soedarsono's eldest daughter, in a palette of warm brown tones. Shown in profile, the child conveys a quiet, reflective presence while revealing the close emotional bond between the artist and his subject.

 

The painting demonstrates Trubus's mastery of realism, particularly in his sensitive rendering of facial anatomy, light, and the delicate texture of skin. Through subtle brushwork and careful observation, he captures not only a physical likeness but also the character and emotional sensitivity that distinguish his work. The painting entered the Museum of Fine Arts collection through a donation by Adam Malik in 1976.