Bali Dancer (Rehearsing) – Antonio Maria Blanco

Artist: Antonio Maria Blanco (Filipino-born Spanish/Indonesian, 1911–1999)
Date: c. 1960s–1980s
Medium: Mixed media on paper (watercolor, gouache, and ink)
Dimensions: Approximately 21 x 15 inches (Image); 32 x 26 inches (Overall framed)

This evocative work by Antonio Maria Blanco captures a Balinese dancer in a signature “romantic-expressive” style that defined his career after he settled in Ubud, Bali, in 1952. The subject is likely inspired by his wife and lifelong muse, the famous Balinese dancer Ni Ronji. Blanco’s technique blends the fluid, ethereal lines of European impressionism with the vibrant, mystical energy of Balinese culture. The dancer is depicted in a dynamic, crouching pose with a fan, rendered with soft, atmospheric washes of color that contrast with the more detailed, expressive face.

A critical component of this artwork is the elaborate, artist-designed frame. Blanco famously considered the frame an extension of the painting itself, often hand-carving or texturing them to harmonize with the theme of the work. This specific frame features a green and gold “weathered” patina and an arched matting that creates a window-like effect, drawing the viewer into a dreamlike, theatrical space. The inclusion of handwritten script at the bottom, often poetic verses or personal notes in Indonesian or Spanish, is a recurring element in Blanco’s more personal mixed-media pieces, emphasizing the narrative and intimate nature of his art.