Title
Malay couple on village path
Year/Period
Early-mid 20th century
Region
Singapore/Malaysia
Dimension
Image size: L13.8cm X W8.7cm
Accession No.
1991-00365
Collection of
The Malay man is holding a durian, famously known as the 'king of fruits' in Southeast Asia. It is not surprising if this man had grown the fruit in his backyard as durian trees were not uncommon in kampongs during the early 20th century. The allure of the fruit is perhaps best summed up by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, who in 1869 described eating durians as "a new sensation, worth a voyage to the East to experience".
