A Buffalo, a Flag, and the First Imagining of Indonesia

Long before Indonesia proclaimed independence in 1945, its students overseas were already imagining a sovereign nation, by name, by vision, and by symbol. One of the earliest visual artifacts of that dream was the emblem of the Perhimpunan Indonesia, designed around 1921 by Indonesian students studying in the Netherlands.

At first glance, it’s a striking composition: a fierce black buffalo head overlaid on the red and white flag. But beneath its simple design lies the early DNA of Indonesia’s modern nationalist identity.

The organization, originally known as Indische Vereeniging, was founded in 1908 by Indonesian students in the Netherlands. By 1921–1922, under the leadership of Herman Kartowisastro, the group rebranded itself as Perhimpunan Indonesia (PI), adopting the term “Indonesia” politically for the first time. Alongside this shift came the need for a visual identity, something bold, grounded, and unmistakably “ours.”

Though the exact designer remains unknown, Noto Soeroto, a prominent Javanese intellectual and poet with an art background, is often credited with influencing its visual form.

A Buffalo for the People

The buffalo, or kerbau, was chosen for a reason. In Indonesia’s agrarian culture, the animal is more than a beast of burden. It is a symbol of resilience, patience, and quiet strength. Calm in the field, yet capable of powerful resistance when provoked, the buffalo mirrored the temperament of the Indonesian people as imagined by the students: grounded, enduring, and unafraid to charge when pushed too far.

For the PI, this wasn't just poetic metaphor, it was visual politics. According to historian Harry A. Poeze, the buffalo became a source of inspiration for Indonesian nationalist students abroad. At a time when the archipelago was still referred to in colonial terms “Dutch East Indies,” “Netherlands Indies”, the use of “Indonesia” and the assertion of local symbols marked a radical turn. This was no longer a colonial identity, but a national one in the making.

Later, the influence of this emblem would echo beyond student circles. The Jong Indonesia youth group adopted similar imagery when it was founded in Bandung in 1927, and just months later, Sukarno’s Indonesian National Party (PNI) replaced the buffalo with a bull’s head (banteng), marking a continuity of revolutionary imagery.

Colors, Shape, and Meaning

The visual language of the emblem was subtle but deliberate. The red and white, long associated with Indonesian courage and purity, provided a recognizable patriotic frame. The buffalo, rendered in black, stood out in stark contrast, symbolizing determination and unshakable resolve.

The emblem made use of both organic and geometric forms: the waving flag rendered with soft curves, the buffalo head shaped with powerful strokes. Its composition was symmetrical and bold, ensuring immediate recognition and emotional impact. Even without digital tools or widespread circulation, it became a symbol seen across books, banners, and student congresses.

The emblem’s aesthetic also carried a vintage print texture, thick ink, etched outlines, and grainy contrasts typical of early 20th-century European print design. It was more than an artistic choice; it projected a sense of permanence, as if saying: this is not a passing idea, this is a movement with weight.

Resistance Through Symbolism

More than just a logo, the PI emblem signaled the rise of visual resistance. It drew from both local cultural wisdom and global anti-colonial thought. Influenced by figures like Mohandas Gandhi and the philosophy of nonviolent civil disobedience, the students of Perhimpunan Indonesia saw visual identity as part of their ideological arsenal.

In the 1920s, Indonesia’s farmers and workers were among the most exploited groups under Dutch rule. Land reforms common in Europe were absent in the colony. Forced labor, land seizure, and economic oppression were systemic. According to anthropologist Koentjaraningrat, colonialism was not only about political rule, but about structural exploitation that disfigured rural life.

In this context, the buffalo stood not only for agricultural identity, but for resistance itself. It represented the very people, peasants, laborers, rural villagers, who would form the foundation of the independence movement in decades to come.

A Legacy Beyond the Page

Today, the emblem of the Perhimpunan Indonesia may seem like a footnote in the broader story of Indonesia’s road to independence. But it remains a powerful early example of how visual identity, culture, and politics intersected in the making of a nation.

It reminds us that before a flag flies, before a constitution is written, before a leader is elected, there are always symbols. And sometimes, a buffalo’s quiet gaze can carry more than strength. It can carry history.

Further Reading

1. Merah Putih, Kerbau, dan Banteng. (2014, December 18). Historia - Majalah Sejarah Populer Pertama Di Indonesia. https://historia.id/politik/articles/merah-putih-kerbau-dan-banteng-DLo16/page/2

2. Welianto, A. (2020, February 12). Perhimpunan Indonesia: Organisasi Pertama yang Pakai Istilah Indonesia Halaman all - Kompas.com. KOMPAS.com. https://www.kompas.com/skola/read/2020/02/12/200000869/perhimpunan-indonesia-organisasi-pertama-yang-pakai-istilah-indonesia?page=all

3. Noto Soeroto dan Sejarah Seni Rupa Indonesia. (2020, October 8). Historia - Majalah Sejarah Populer Pertama Di Indonesia. https://historia.id/kultur/articles/noto-soeroto-dan-sejarah-seni-rupa-indonesia-PRxg9/page/3

4. Terkini, B. (2023, August 14). Arti dan Makna Bendera Merah Putih sesuai Fakta Sejarah. Kumparan. https://kumparan.com/berita-terkini/arti-dan-makna-bendera-merah-putih-sesuai-fakta-sejarah-20zNUsSG2sq#:~:text=Merah%20artinya%20berani%20dan%20putih,membela%20dan%20memperjuangkan%20kemerdekaan%20Indonesia.