The painting 'Girl with Cat' by Balthus is a captivating work of art that has intrigued viewers for decades. Created in 1937, this oil on canvas piece measures 88 x 78 cm and is a prime example of the artist's unique style, which combines elements of Symbolism, Realism, and Romanticism.
The Artist
Balthus was born Balthasar Klossowski in 1908 in Paris to a Polish father and a Russian mother. He began his artistic career at a young age, studying under Rene Crevel and Pierre Bonnard. Balthus's early works were influenced by Surrealism, but he later developed his distinct style, which is characterized by its use of symbolism and emotional intensity.
The Painting
The 'Girl with Cat' painting features a young girl in a suggestive pose with a cat. The girl is depicted in a state of undress, with her legs spread apart and her body turned towards the viewer. The cat is positioned between her legs, adding to the eroticism of the scene. This painting is part of a series called
Balthus: Cats and Girls, which explores the origins and permutations of the French artist’s focus on felines and the dark side of childhood.
Tradition of Salacious Images
The 'Girl with Cat' painting fits into the tradition of salacious images of women in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century painting. This genre often features a small animal, such as a cat or lap dog, which serves as a symbol of the female body. Examples of this tradition can be seen in
Jean Antoine Watteau's 'Lady at Her Toilette' (1716/17) at the
Wallace Collection and
Edouard Manet's 'Olympia' (1865) at the
Musee d'Orsay.
Important Works by Balthus:
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To learn more about Balthus and his works, visit:
Balthus.