149 - Theo MEIER (1908–1982) Attributed to

Theo MEIER (1908–1982) Attributed to La Balinaise, 1962 Oil on canvas 87 x 71 cm Signed lower left and dated 1962 Provenance: Private French collection (Lyon) Theo Meier was a Swiss painter trained at the Basel Academy of Fine Arts, deeply influenced by his discovery of Paul Gauguin and by the movements of primitivism. After spending time in Europe, he turned to Asia in search of an unspoiled artistic and cultural ideal. Disappointed by Tahiti, which he felt had changed too much, he found in Indonesia—and particularly in Bali—an environment that matched his aspirations. Having settled on the island in the 1930s, Meier joined a community of Western artists fascinated by what they perceived as an unspoiled culture, alongside figures such as Walter Spies and Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès. Bali then became the focal point of his work for more than a decade. His style, influenced by Gauguin, is characterized by simplified forms, structured compositions, and intense color contrasts, blending deep reds, yellows, and blues. He was particularly interested in ritual scenes, such as the sacred Indonesian dance, whose spiritual dimension and grace he captured through a rich color palette. For Meier, Bali is not merely an exotic backdrop but a true “living museum,” where nature, rituals, and society coexist harmoniously. His work thus reflects a deep immersion in Balinese culture, informed by precise ethnographic observations and a unique pictorial sensibility.