Walter Spies, a German-born painter, musician, and ethnographer, had a profound and lasting influence on the development of modern Balinese art and the global perception of Balinese culture. Arriving in Bali in 1927, Spies brought with him a background in European modernist art and a deep curiosity about the cultural and artistic traditions of Indonesia. His encounter with Bali’s richly symbolic and ceremonial world deeply inspired him, and he quickly integrated himself into local society, particularly within the royal court of Ubud. Spies' impact on Balinese art was both stylistic and structural. He encouraged Balinese artists—who had traditionally worked anonymously and within strict religious or ritual frameworks—to explore more personal, expressive, and secular themes. This marked a major shift in Balinese visual culture. Spies introduced techniques such as perspective, shading, and individual composition, blending Western visual concepts with Balinese iconography. He did not ...