Adrien Jean Le Mayeur De Merpres

Belgium

1880 – 1958

Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès (9 February 1880 – 31 May 1958) was a Belgian painter who spent his later years in Bali. He was an Impressionist and one of the first Indo-European artists to gain recognition in Southeast Asia. His love for art was influenced by his father, a marine painter, but he took a different path, choosing to paint sunlight and exotic landscapes around the world.

Although he briefly studied engineering, his passion for painting led him back to creating Impressionist-style landscapes in Belgium. During World War I, he worked as a wartime painter and photographer, but after the war, he longed for adventure and beauty, much like Paul Gauguin and his search for paradise.

In the 1920s, Le Mayeur traveled through Italy, North Africa, India, Cambodia, Burma, Madagascar, and Turkey, capturing the beauty of these places in his paintings. In 1929, hoping to find an untouched artistic paradise, he set his sights on Bali, known as the Island of the Gods. He arrived later that year and was captivated by the islands landscapes and culture.

Today, his paintings are celebrated for their blend of Western Impressionist techniques and a deep appreciation for Balinese beauty and traditions.