- 390
ARIE SMIT | Temple Gate in Ubud
Estimate
350,000 - 550,000 HKD
bidding is closed
Description
- Arie Smit
- Temple Gate in Ubud
- Signed and dated 86
- Acrylic on canvas
- 70 by 60 cm; 27 1/2 by 23 1/2 in.
Provenance
Private Asian Collection
Literature
Suteja Neka and Drs. Sudarmaji, Arie Smit, Koes Artbooks, Bali, Indonesia, 1995, p. 100, color illustration
Condition
This work is in good overall condition as viewed. There is evidence of craquleure to the work, but this is consistent with the age of the work and the nature of the medium. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals no sign of restoration as viewed. Framed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
Staged in the quiet solitude of the night, Temple Gate in Ubud is an introspective piece that captures the contemplative atmosphere of the Balinese temple. Rich pigments dye the work in deep, saturated washes to create a meditative experience, complementing the pensive figure resting by the temple gates. The scene’s expressive qualities articulate Smit’s sensitivity to the aesthetic nuances of color, its softened palette evocative of the temple’s serene setting. The mysticism of the moonlight fascinated the artist, who used loose, stippled brushstrokes to replicate the effect of dappled blue light filtering through the verdant foliage. Largely inspired by the effect of Van Gogh’s complementary color touches, Smit establishes a delicate harmony between the forest and the midnight sky, its variegated texture instilling the painting with a rhythmic vitality.[1] Luminescent against the darkened horizon, the temple’s architecture is reproduced in linear, shortened strokes of pink, red and yellows. The roughened pastiche of warm tones hints at the weathered quality of the temple gates, a testament to Smit’s virtuosity in conveying reality through abstract, simplified forms. Even in the subdued moonlight, the image pulsates with a quiet intensity, reminiscent of the vivacious energy that permeated Bali’s landscape. Unlike his contemporaries, Arie Smit was consumed by a painterly impulse to capture the remote aspects of the island, creating a romantic recollection of a Bali untouched by mass tourism.
[1] Luciënne Smit, Arie Smit: A Painter’s Life in the Tropics, Netherlands 2016, 178.
[1] Luciënne Smit, Arie Smit: A Painter’s Life in the Tropics, Netherlands 2016, 178.