Jeihan Sukmantoro (1938 – 2019) was a renowned Indonesian artist, widely recognized for his distinctive figurative works – most notably his signature depiction of black, empty eyes.

His works have a special quality of expression in line and colour. One of the most unique characteristics is the black eyes on the faces of his figures. The bodies are also distorted with elongated anatomy which is almost like traditional Javanese wayang (puppets) figures.

The black eyes in Jeihan’s works reflect ideas of the mystery of the future that humans are unable to foresee. It is also a symbol of neutrality amidst the political unrest of his time, representing a conscious decision to remain aligned with any particular faction.

Jeihan has also said that objects or subjects with ‘blackened eyes’ led him to many things that could never be achieved by open eyes. “What is seen is not necessarily good and vice versa,” he said at the time.

Faces in his paintings appear to lack expression, which allow viewers to make their own interpretations. Figures are detached from backgrounds and appear to be floating in space. His solid and firm works have a meditative aura, combining eastern mysticism with western analysis.

Jeihan is not a painter who pours his emotions out directly onto his canvases. He always goes through the process of sketching, which allows him to record aspects of life around him. 

Though Jeihan passed away in 2019, his artistic legacy lives on.