Lot Essay
A work of similiar composition and comparable scale is in the Collection of President Sukarno. The work which is entitled Woman lying under a parasol, flanked by two other women, with several figures in the background, (150 x 200 cm, oil on canvas) depicted the same sea view decorated with the luxuriant foliage and flowers of the tropics with Pollok reclining in a different position as in the present lot.
Both works could be dated to the artist's post-war Balinese period (1950s) and it has been observed that "Compared with his pre-war Balinese works, the figures tend to be, lietrally in the background more and more. They become smaller, less the centre of attention. On the other hand their number is increasing, so that the compositions feature up to five or even ten figures now. Usually these figures are placed under an arch of boughs and flowers. Spaciousness is heightened by the inclusion of the beach and seascape in the background." (Jop Ubbens and Cathinka Huizing, Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès: Painter-Traveller,, Wijk en Aalburg, 1995, p.173.)
Both works could be dated to the artist's post-war Balinese period (1950s) and it has been observed that "Compared with his pre-war Balinese works, the figures tend to be, lietrally in the background more and more. They become smaller, less the centre of attention. On the other hand their number is increasing, so that the compositions feature up to five or even ten figures now. Usually these figures are placed under an arch of boughs and flowers. Spaciousness is heightened by the inclusion of the beach and seascape in the background." (Jop Ubbens and Cathinka Huizing, Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès: Painter-Traveller,, Wijk en Aalburg, 1995, p.173.)