Headcloth (Iket Kepala)
Late 19th century
Medium
Cotton, plain weave; hand-drawn wax resist dyed (batik tulis)
Dimensions
106.7 × 107.4 cm (42 × 42 1/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
59204
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The palette and design details of this man's headcloth differ from those of the four pieces shown to the left (1926.24, 1926.22, 1926.5, and 1926.4). Here the overall effect is darker, thanks to the deeper red tone of the soga. Also, there are numerous bracket-like white lines arranged in a radially symmetrical fashion, which suggest mountain peaks. These form a pleasing pattern in their own right and provide welcome contrast to the otherwise somber palette. Such differences may well indicate pr...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...