Affandi (1907–1990)
Self-Portrait and Balinese Masks,1960

Oil on canvas

For Affandi, a self-portrait was never merely a likeness but a way of understanding himself as a human being. In this painting, he places his own face among bebondresan masks from Bali- comic, caricatured figures that represent ordinary people. By doing so, Affandi suggests that he did not see himself as set apart

from society, but as one of its members.

 

A pioneer of Indonesian Expressionism, Affandi employed spontaneous, energetic brushwork to communicate emotion directly. The Balinese masks are not decorative objects but symbols of the many facets of human character and experience. It is often said that Affandi compared himself to Sukrasana, a wayang character whose unattractive appearance concealed a noble heart- a story that reflects the artist's humility and his belief that true worth lies in one's inner character rather than outward appearance. The painting entered the Museum of Fine Arts collection through a donation by Adam Malik in 1976.