Timeless Grace: A Balinese Joged Dancer

In the present lot, Antonio Blanco captures a moment suspended between movement and memory—an intimate echo of Bali's living cultural rhythm rendered through his signature fusion of sensitivity and flourish. The young dancer, caught mid-gesture, radiates a poise that transcends the fragile surface of paper. Blanco’s swift, expressive shading sculpts her bare torso with remarkable immediacy, while strokes of luminous white heighten the sense of motion. A vibrant sash—greens dissolving into warm ochres and soft reds—wraps her waist, rooting her firmly in the vivid world of the Joged tradition.

Her face, though drawn with the lightest economy of line, reveals an arresting presence: eyes steady, lips slightly parted, as though inviting the viewer into the unfolding dance. The loosely sketched headdress and delicate jewellery speak of ceremonial beauty, yet Blanco's restraint ensures these details never overshadow the true focus—the dancer's body language. Her extended arm, the gentle tilt of her hip, and the suggestion of a flowing turn all evoke the grace and spontaneity of the performance.

Across the lower portion of the drawing, Blanco includes a handwritten inscription in old Balinese script, adding a voice from another time: "Bangkyang joged luwung pisan, sire purun ngibing jogede puniki?" Translated, it reads: "The joged dancer's waist is very beautiful—who wishes to dance with this Joged?" This playful, intimate note deepens the cultural and emotional resonance of the work.

In this modest 30 × 25 cm composition, Blanco distils not only the elegance of a dancer, but the spirit of Bali itself—alive, expressive, and timeless.