The Balcony 1948

"The Balcony" (1948) by Paul Delvaux depicts two women on a balcony, one nude and the other fully clothed. The woman on the left is draped in a blue cloth, revealing her naked body, while she turns towards the other woman who stands in a black dress with lace detailing on the balcony. The scene is bathed in an eerie blue light and rendered in a precise and detailed style, characteristic of Delvaux's Surrealist works. The juxtaposition of the two women creates an unsettling tension, exploring themes of desire, alienation, and the human condition. Delvaux’s use of light and shadow further underscores the mysterious and dreamlike quality of the painting.