OA

Prince or Pembekel?

This article examines the provenance of an oil painting, looted from the Cakranegara palace of Lombok by Dutch forces in 1894, and returned to Indonesia in 2023. The figure in the painting had long been assumed to be Anak Agung Made Karangasem (?-1894), a Balinese prince from Cakranegara and a key figure in the Lombok conflict. This assumption can be traced back to collector Théodore Delprat (1851-1932) who appraised it (along with many other looted objects from Lom bok) based on what it meant to him as a Dutch nationalist and imperialist. This appraisal was left unchallenged until recently, when critical viewers from Lombok regained easier access to the painting and were able to note discrepancies. Based on consultation of circulating accounts in Lombok and re-examination of colonial archives, this article identifies the figure as Dulatip of Kelayu (?-1920), a high-ranking Sasak official in the Cakranegara court, and a pembekel (chief) of Punia Village, likely the original owner of the painting. Our efforts show that critical collaboration between Indonesian and Dutch sources is still needed to overcome colonial misinterpretations and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of contested heritage.