Getting Up 1977

Curator: This is "Getting Up," an oil painting created in 1977 by Balthus. It currently resides in a private collection. Editor: The canvas presents a striking blend of tenderness and something almost… unsettling. There is a very specific light which creates an intimate yet strangely detached atmosphere. Curator: Balthus’s masterful manipulation of color, particularly his subdued palette of ochres and greens, serves to create that mood. Consider how the textural variations draw attention to the materiality of the oil paint itself, emphasizing the work’s artifice. Editor: I see this palette reflecting the cultural anxieties of the late 70s, a sense of decay perhaps mirroring economic recessions and shifting social structures. Note the passive, yet confident depiction of the nude child as an unusual choice by the artist; she seems completely undisturbed and perhaps a bit unaware of any social conventions or constraints. Curator: Yes, this approach challenges traditional conventions of figuration. We can't ignore how his work fits within broader dialogues about the gaze, representation, and power within art historical traditions. Look at her elongated limbs and stylized form—Balthus clearly departs from academic realism, favoring a highly personal and arguably, somewhat subversive, style. Editor: This is undoubtedly the crux of discussions surrounding Balthus. In the later half of the twentieth century, what impact might such a vision have when introduced into institutions with certain expectations about acceptable material or messaging? Curator: The unsettling nature you described also seems intentionally created. Notice how he balances realism with elements of abstraction that create layers of meaning beyond the immediate, representational subject matter. Even her gaze directs you away from her and almost challenges the viewer, drawing the eye into what meaning the other components within the composition such as the bird might have. Editor: So what initially seems like a simple morning scene, a young girl roused, the day beginning, morphs under careful consideration of technique and historical placement, into a far richer and provocative artwork, doesn't it? Curator: Indeed. Balthus pushes us to reconsider established conventions and actively question our perceptions.