Harijadi Sumodidjojo

Harijadi Sumodidjojo (July 25, 1919 – June 3, 1997) was an Indonesian realist artist who lived during the revolutionary era. He was able to portray the physical form and thoughts of people in a way that could be enjoyed by the general public.

Biography Harijadi Sumodidjojo was born on July 25, 1919, in the village of, Purworejo Regency, Central Java. His father was Samadi, an assistant teacher and headmaster of Ongko Loro School in Ketawangrejo. Samadi was well known as a lover of literature and traditional karawitan music, while his mother was Ngadikem binti Mansur, the daughter of a tobacco landlord in Jember, East Java. In 1940–1941, he worked as a commercial artist for a firm in Jakarta, and was well known as one of artists nurtured by the Young Artists of Indonesia (Seniman Indonesia Muda – SIM) organisation led by Sindoedarsono Soedjojono. To provide for his family, Harijadi also worked as a teacher in girls school.

During World War II, Harijadi worked for the Allies as a meteorologist and saw combat in Malaya and Sumatera. In 1949, he joined Brigade 17 of the (TNI) in the battle for Yogyakarta. He joined the Army as a Lieutenant 2nd class, but was soon promoted to Detachment Commander Engineer Brigade 17 for the South Kedu region.

Harijadi was one of the painters who was often invited by President Sukarno to discuss art.

In 1965, Sukarno sent Harijadi and another artist, Puranto Yapung, along with historians Drs Soemardjo and Drs Buchori to learn about museums in Mexico. They learned how to make dioramas from Mario Vasces, an expert in anthropology and museums who worked for the Mexican government.