The week with four thursdays 1949

"The Week with Four Thursdays" (1949) by Balthus is a captivating oil on canvas painting. The painting depicts a young woman reclining in a chair, seemingly asleep, with her leg extending towards the viewer. A cat sits on the chair's armrest, while another young woman stands by a window overlooking a city scene. The enigmatic title suggests a dreamlike quality and adds an air of mystery to the composition. This work is characteristic of Balthus's signature style, characterized by realistic yet unsettling depictions of young women, often in suggestive poses and evocative settings.