LOT 55
HAN SNEL
B. Netherlands, 1925 – 1998
Bali, 1981
Acrylic on board
60 x 66 cm
Private Collection, Singapore
Signed and dated “Bali, 1981” on lower right
RM 8,000 – 12,000
A master of Balinese genre painting, Dutch born artist Han Snel originally arrived in Bali as a soldier in 1946, but fell so deeply in love with the island’s culture and landscape that he converted to Hinduism and made it his permanent home. His deep immersion into local life is beautifully realized in his 1981 work, Bali, a piece that reflects his signature blend of Western graphic styling and deep Eastern mysticism. Moving away from traditional, densely packed Balinese aesthetics, Snel utilizes a highly stylized, geometric approach with flat planes of color and clean, flowing lines to depict a scene of daily life. The composition masterfully balances form and color, capturing the serene, dignified essence of the Balinese people and their natural surroundings without slipping into exoticized fantasy. By pairing a modern, mid-century graphic sensibility with a deeply personal reverence for his adopted home, Bali stands as a vibrant, poetic tribute to the island’s enduring spiritual charm and cultural harmony.