Ecce Homo 1949

Paul Delvaux painted this, Ecce Homo, in oil on canvas. Look at how he’s put down these thin, washy layers, almost like a watercolor, yet with the richness of oil paint. The skeletons, draped in these jewel-toned cloths, are set against a backdrop that feels both real and dreamlike. It's the kind of space where the everyday meets the fantastical. Notice the skeleton draped over the cross: Delvaux uses the translucence of the paint to suggest a body that is, and isn't there. It's an ambiguity that permeates the whole piece. Delvaux, like Magritte, was a Belgian Surrealist, and he was also interested in classical antiquity. I think you can see both of these passions at play here. The whole thing is so weird, but also beautiful. It's like he's saying, "Hey, life is strange, but let's find some beauty in it anyway." What a thought!