Balthus, The Living Room

Balthus, The Living Room
oil on canvas, 1941?1943
Minneapolis Institute of Art
(http://www.newrepublic.com/article/books-and-arts/the-picture-balthus-boldini)
no copyright infringement intended

He has been, in the words of Albert Camus, a patient and clairvoyant swimmer, . . .[toiling] up strange rivers toward forgotten sources.

(Sam Sachs II in 1966 about The Living Room)

In some of his works, the erotic dimension is implicit. In some others (like this one), Balthus pushes the thing up to the border, still not crossing it - while the suggestion is obvious. It's like telling us, this is just a table, if you think otherwise you are the pervert.


(Balthus)