Silent Night 1962

Paul Delvaux painted this strangely-lit scene, Silent Night, with oil on canvas. The cool blues and greens of the trees, which line the street like theatrical flats, create an otherworldly atmosphere. Delvaux was clearly interested in the process of arranging objects in a space, and how these arrangements create a certain mood. The paint is applied smoothly, almost clinically, which adds to the dreamlike quality of the scene. The way the light reflects on the women’s bodies and the geometric shadows cast by the trees create a sense of unease. Notice that figure in the hat, sat at the table under a lamp, as if this were the most normal thing in the world. Delvaux's work often features figures in bizarre, theatrical settings, and he’s been compared to other surrealists, such as Magritte. But, unlike Magritte, Delvaux had this ability to capture a kind of frozen, timeless moment, a pause in the narrative that invites endless interpretations. Art isn't about answers, it's about the questions it makes us ask.