Ball 

This painting, titled "Ball," was made by Paul Delvaux using oil on canvas. Here, Delvaux uses traditional materials and methods in a way that feels unsettling. Oil paint, normally a medium of richness and depth, is applied here in a flat, almost lifeless manner. The figures, rendered with a clinical precision, seem devoid of emotion. The perspective is skewed, creating a sense of unease, as the room is a stage for something unknowable. The ball itself, centrally positioned, becomes a focal point. But is it an object of play, or something more sinister? The amount of labor involved is in sharp contrast to the scene's coldness, highlighting a disjunction between skill and emotional detachment. The painting's power lies in its unsettling use of familiar techniques to create a world of alienated beauty, challenging our assumptions about the relationship between craft and content.