On the wall of Daoed Joesoef’s house is a painting: an empty beach, with waves rolling from the horizon. If you look closely, the foam of the breaking waves on the shore forms Arabic caligraphy. The sea seems to be uttering the Islamic article of faith.

The painting is his own work. Daoed Joesoef, who in his youth made his living, among other things, from drawing film posters, was not an artist with spontaneous brushwork. He was more a crafter