Abdullah Suriosubroto ⁽²⁾

Abdullah Suriosubroto was a painter who clearly woke up one day and decided Java was too beautiful not to document obsessively. Born in the late 19th century, he became known for lush landscapes that make you feel like the air smells better just by looking at them. Mountains, rice fields, forests, rivers. If nature had a PR department, Suriosubroto was basically on retainer. His work translates beautifully into counted cross stitch — and his landscapes are exactly why we chose to feature him in our cross stitch kit collection at The Art of Stitch.

His work doesn't shout or demand attention. It calmly sits there being gorgeous, which somehow feels more impressive — and makes for a cross stitch design that's as meditative to stitch as it is to look at.

What makes him especially interesting is that he blended Western painting techniques with Indonesian scenery in a way that felt natural, not forced. He studied art in Europe, absorbed all that academic polish, then came home and used it to show Indonesia through a loving, almost reverent lens. No dramatic chaos, no tortured-artist theatrics. Just steady craftsmanship and a deep appreciation for the land around him — qualities that translate perfectly into a cross stitch pattern, where every stitch builds something quietly extraordinary. Honestly refreshing.

Suriosubroto's work helped shape early modern Indonesian art, even if he didn't go around announcing it like a résumé bullet point. His landscapes feel peaceful, grounded, and quietly confident — which is exactly why stitching one feels so satisfying from start to finish. Whether you choose a cross stitch kit with everything included or prefer to download a PDF cross stitch pattern and source your own materials, his work rewards every hour you put into it. Like they know they'll still be admired long after trends move on. And they were right.