Cantik 

Basuki Abdullah painted ‘Cantik’, using what looks like oil on canvas, to explore ideas of beauty in Indonesian culture. The artwork's title, meaning 'beautiful' in Indonesian and Malay, points to the artist's intention to capture an idealized form of feminine beauty. Made in Indonesia, the painting reflects the socio-cultural values of the time, possibly influenced by the nation's post-colonial search for identity. Abdullah, who received training in Western art techniques, merges this with Indonesian subject matter. The soft, romanticized depiction aligns with the conventions of academic portraiture, yet it presents an Indonesian woman, potentially challenging Western-centric beauty standards. To fully understand the painting’s cultural significance, we can research the history of Indonesian art institutions, the role of portraiture in national identity, and the evolving concepts of beauty through Indonesian history. This type of research reminds us that a work like this reflects the cultural values and institutional frameworks of its time.