Art Resource - ART201425

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Shadow puppet from Java, Indonesia, 19th century. The colours and designs of Javanese shadow puppets are all clues to help identify the character. Here the figure, taken from an Indian version of the tale of the Ramayana, the reddish-pink colour of Kumbakarna's face is an indication of his ruthlessness, while the tusks in the corner of his mouth suggest that he is a giant or a monster. However, he also has positive characteristics, such as his loyalty to his brother, which are brought out in the performance.The earliest references to shadow puppets in Java are by court poets in the eleventh century. The puppeteer is not simply a performer, but also a ritual specialist because of the beneficial influence that the performance of shadow plays is believed to have on the well-being of the community.
Ethno, 1859.12-28.547

Location British Museum/London/Great Britain

Unique Identifier ART201425

Type Image

Purpose Public

Size 1344px × 1600px

Photo Credit Erich Lessing / Art Resource, NY

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