Book DescriptionBatik is one of Indonesia's most highly developed art forms and occupies a special position in the country's cultural history A succession of religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam), waves of colonization (Chinese, Indian, Arab, Portuguese, Dutch, and English), and the development of a highly sophisticated culture in the обькя courts of Java and Sumatra which encouraged the supremacy of the aristocracy, all left their imprint on the development of batik In a rank-conscious society, class distinctions were made by the type of textiles worn and their patterns--many dress styles and motifs were the prerogative of royalty--although the development of Indo-European batik led to widespread use of the sarong The 71 batik textiles shown in this book are from the collection of Rudolf G Smend Most date from the period 1880-­1930 when the art of batik in Java reached its peak Emanating from the provincial and stately courts of Yogyakarta and Surakarta in Central Java are hip, chest, shoulder,and head cloths in orderly, controlled, geometric patterns in natural soga brown, indigo blue, black, and cream Brighter colors and freer designs on the sarongs made in Cirebon, Pekalongan, Lasem, and other towns along Java's commercial north coast eloquently attest to the blending of indigenous forms, motifs, and colors with outside influences Southern Sumatra, with its Muslim heritage, contributed large shoulder cloths and headscarves, often bearing Koranic invocations These extraordinary cloths arecomplemented by 16 vintage photo prints from the Leo Haks collection, which demonstrate how batik was worn at court and in other settings.  Книга представляет2004 г 96 стр ISBN 0794602711.