Javanese Mother and Child

Copied Paul Bogatay, Javanese Mother and Child, 1935, glazed ceramic, 22 x 6 7⁄8 x 5 1⁄4 in. (55.9 x 17.5 x 13.4 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Henrietta Cunningham Bogatay, Todd Bogatay, and Lucia Bogatay, 1988.94.1

Artwork Details

Title
Javanese Mother and Child
Artist
Date
1935
Location
Dimensions
22 x 6 7⁄8 x 5 1⁄4 in. (55.9 x 17.5 x 13.4 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Henrietta Cunningham Bogatay, Todd Bogatay, and Lucia Bogatay
Mediums
Mediums Description
glazed ceramic
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure group — family — mother and child
  • Javanese
  • Object — fruit
Object Number
1988.94.1
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1988.94.1

Artwork Description

Paul Bogatay was inspired by his time spent at sea to create this dignified image of a native Javanese woman and her child. The viewer might imagine that this pair has just encountered foreigners, and while the child lightly clings to his mother, she stands tall and proud, confident and protective of her son. The artist won first prize for ceramic sculpture when he exhibited this naturalistic sculpture in the fifth Ceramic National Exhibition at the Syracuse Museum of Fine Arts in 1936.