The Turkish Room 1963

Balthus made "The Turkish Room" in oil paint, and even though we don't have the exact date, you can almost feel him playing with art history, nodding to Matisse's love of interiors, but also doing his own thing. The textures here are quiet. The paint isn't super thick, but it has a powdery, matte quality that almost makes it feel like a fresco. Look at the way he renders the tiled wall behind the figure. Each tile is carefully placed, yet there is a looseness, a freedom that keeps it from feeling too rigid. It’s like he’s setting up a stage, and then letting the players – the girl, the light, the objects – take over. This piece reminds me that painting isn't about answers. It’s about the ongoing conversation artists have with each other, across time, and with ourselves.