Washing

Two women are washing their clothes on the banks of a river whose waters are very clear. This is an illustration of Hendra’s early memories, when he still loved to go for adventures in the fresh air of Pasundan, West Java.

Hendra as a child was fond of strolling down village streets that followed the path of the river. He enjoyed the water lapping against the rocks in the river.

He would stop walking when he saw an area where the water was calm, with fish congregating there while swimming.

He was also very happy to see women busily washing their clothes by the riverside, while chatting to each other about all kinds of things. For Hendra, the happiness of the women washing in the river depicted the tranquility of life in the midst of nature.

The Pasundan culture that relies on the teachings of Islam always asserted that: cleanliness is a part of faith. This painting is a visualization of this phrase.

And Hendra said that cleanliness always started with Mothers, while from the visual aspect Hendra said that the figures of the women, the quiet natural setting and the constantly owing water, were very interesting components when combined.

He felt that the scene of the women washing (clothes) in the river could only exist in tropical countries, such as Indonesia.