Balthus (1908–2001) was a French painter known for his eerie and provocative works. Unlike most modern artists, he did not belong to a particular group or movement. Balthus was one of the relatively few figurative painters to emerge in the 1930’s, when abstract painting was the dominant style. His paintings feature strongly outlined and distinct forms with smooth layers of overlapping paint and rich colors.
Balthus’s paintings seem to stop time at an awkward moment—that is, when something in the scene is incorrect or inappropriate. His works fall into two general groups. One consists of outdoor scenes which often include figures conveying a sense of tension and menace. The other, more controversial, group emphasizes interior scenes of adolescent girls in sexually suggestive situations.
Balthus was born on Feb. 29, 1908, in Paris to Polish parents living there. His real name was Balthasar Klossowski de Rola. His father was a painter and an art historian, and his mother was also a painter. Balthus had little academic training and was largely self-taught. His early work was loosely allied with the Surrealism movement (see Surrealism ). His mature work developed into a more realistic style. Balthus died on Feb. 18, 2001.
