Seated Javanese Dancer, 1933

A Javanese dancer sits in composed stillness in this 1933 oban-format woodblock print, reflecting Lum's later career shift toward Southeast Asian subjects. By the 1930s, Lum had moved from Japan to China and was traveling extensively through Java, Bali, and other Indonesian islands. Javanese court dance, with its controlled, angular gestures and elaborate costumes, offered her new subject matter rich in visual complexity. The seated pose captures a moment of repose — perhaps before or between performances — that allows attention to settle on the dancer's costume, headdress, and the precise positioning of hands and limbs. Lum adapts her Japanese woodblock technique to this new cultural context, the flat color areas and clean outlines translating effectively to the batik-like patterns of Javanese textiles.