Girl and Cat 1937

balthus

Private Collection

acrylic

character portrait

animal

portrait subject

possibly oil pastel

oil painting

green background

green and neutral

sitting

portrait art

fine art portrait

celebrity portrait

"Girl and Cat" (1937) by Balthus is a captivating oil painting that captures the stillness and enigmatic gaze of a young girl. The painting's composition is simple yet powerful, with the girl seated on a stool in a dimly lit room, her legs crossed and her hands resting behind her head. The girl's attire, a pink sweater and a white petticoat, accentuates her youthful innocence, but the subject's suggestive pose and the cat at her feet have caused controversy and debate. The painting's realism and dark tones lend a sense of mystery and ambiguity, inviting viewers to contemplate the complex relationship between innocence and experience.