Gotteron 1943

Balthus made "Gotteron" at some point, using oil on canvas, and it's now in a private collection. The whole mood of this piece is so dark and moody, like a dreamscape or a half-remembered memory. Balthus's brushstrokes are really interesting here, he’s got this way of building up layers and layers of paint, but they're also kind of scrubby and uneven. The textures and colours feel very physical. It's like he's trying to capture not just what he sees but what it feels like to be there, in that place. Look at the way he paints the rocks, all rough and jagged. There’s a sort of stillness to them, like they’ve been there forever, witnessing everything. The brush marks create a sense of depth and form that makes you wanna touch them. There's something about the way the painting has this timeless quality that reminds me of Corot, but with a kind of unsettling twist. It feels like Balthus is hinting at something just out of reach.