the collector's folio

Balthus Most Popular Paintings

The 25 artworks by Balthus our visitors look at most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one.

Edition 2026 · 25 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Balthus · 1908 – 2001

Balthus, The street (1933)

1933 · original 195 x 240 cm

Discover Balthus’s ‘The Street,’ a captivating 1933 painting blending realism & surrealism. Explore its dynamic composition, muted palette, and symbolic depth – a timeless masterpiece.

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #1: The street

Art Movement: Other
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$32735 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1653240 × 195 cm Commission at original size

Girl with Cat

1937 · Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · original 88 x 78 cm

Explore Balthus’s ‘Girl with Cat’ (1937): A haunting portrait of youth & tranquility. Discover its realism, symbolism & the artist's unique style.

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #2: Girl with Cat

Art Movement: Surrealism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$35078 × 88 cm Commission at original size

La Patience (Solitaire)

A melancholic figure leans over a table in this 1943 oil by Balthus. Explore the quiet depth of this masterpiece today.

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17732 × 31 cm Commission this artwork

The white skirt, Balthus

1937 · original 130 x 162 cm

Explore Balthus’s iconic ‘The White Skirt,’ a haunting 1937 portrait of youthful vulnerability & classical realism. Discover this masterpiece's symbolism & artistic legacy.

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #4: The white skirt

Art Movement: Contemporary Realism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17735 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$762162 × 130 cm Commission at original size

Guitar lesson (1934) by Balthus

1934 · original 161 x 138 cm

Balthus’s surrealist masterpiece ‘Guitar Lesson,’ painted in 1934, portrays an intimate scene of a woman seated with expansive legs and another playing guitar—a haunting exploration of vulnerability and artistic harmony. Discover the captivating beauty of this iconic artwork.

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #5: Guitar lesson

Art Movement: Surrealist Art
Color Palette: Dark

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$795138 × 161 cm Commission at original size

The Golden Fruit

1956 · original 160 x 159 cm

Art Movement: Expressionism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17731 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$888159 × 160 cm Commission at original size

The Dream by Balthus

1955 · original 162 x 130 cm

Experience the enigmatic mood of Balthus's 1955 painting, The Dream, a captivating study of repose; discover this masterpiece for your collection.

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #7: The Dream

Art Movement: Expressionism
Color Palette: Dark

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17735 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$762162 × 130 cm Commission at original size

The Cat in the Mirror (1988) by Balthus

1988 · original 170 x 200 cm

A mysterious scene of a woman with cats unfolds in this enigmatic 1988 painting by Balthus, blending classical form with modern tension to invite you into his unique and captivating artistic vision.

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #8: The Cat in the Mirror

Art Movement: Contemporary Realism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1135170 × 200 cm Commission at original size

The cardgame, 1973, Balthus

1973 · original 190 x 225 cm

Captured in Expressionism's stark simplicity, Balthus’s ‘The Cardgame’ portrays an intimate tableau of two figures engrossed in a card game—a masterful blend of classical form and unsettling mood. Explore this iconic piece by WikiArt.

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #9: The cardgame

Art Movement: Naive Expressionism
Color Palette: Dark

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17734 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1387225 × 190 cm Commission at original size

Gotteron – Balthus

1943 · original 115 x 99 cm

Balthus’s haunting black and white ‘Gotteron’ captures an eerie Expressionist forest scene from 1943. Explore this captivating artwork by the enigmatic artist and bring its timeless mystery into your collection.

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #10: Gotteron

Art Movement: Expressionist Landscape

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$48299 × 115 cm Commission at original size

The Cherry Tree by Balthus

1940 · original 93 x 73 cm

Balthus’s ‘The Cherry Tree,’ an Expressionist masterpiece from 1940, depicts a haunting scene of a figure suspended from a tree amidst mountains and lush foliage, showcasing the artist's unique style and dramatic vision – discover this captivating artwork.

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #11: The Cherry Tree

Art Movement: Expressionist Landscape Painting
Color Palette: Dark

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$34873 × 93 cm Commission at original size

Landscape with Oxen, 1942, Balthus

1942 · original 100 x 72 cm

Experience Balthus’s haunting Landscape with Oxen, a 1942 Expressionist masterpiece featuring a serene rural scene and distorted forms. Own a piece of this iconic artwork and discover the enigmatic vision of a legendary artist.

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #12: Landscape with Oxen

Art Movement: Expressionist Landscape
Color Palette: Dark

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$360100 × 72 cm Commission at original size

Balthus, Princess Maria Volkonsky at the age of twelve (1945)

1945 · original 82 x 64 cm

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #13: Princess Maria Volkonsky at the age of twelve

Art Movement: Expressionism

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$30264 × 82 cm Commission at original size

Balthus: Children Blanchard

1937

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #14: Children Blanchard

Art Movement: Symbolism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17732 × 31 cm Commission this artwork

La Place du Pantheon (1929) by Balthus

1929 · Israel Museum, Jerusalem

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #15: La Place du Pantheon

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20226 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Thérèse (1938)

1938 · original 100 x 81 cm

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #16: Thérèse

Art Movement: Expressionism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$38681 × 100 cm Commission at original size

La patience The Art Institute of Chicago, 1943, Balthus

1943

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #17: La patience The Art Institute of Chicago

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17732 × 31 cm Commission this artwork

Nude with Cat

1949 · original 80 x 65 cm

Experience Balthus's enigmatic 1949 nude with cat painting, a captivating study of classical form meeting modern unease; discover this masterpiece today.

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #18: Nude with Cat

Art Movement: Expressionism
Color Palette: Dark

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17736 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$30180 × 65 cm Commission at original size

Getting Up, Balthus

1977 · original 159 x 169 cm

This Expressionist nude painting by Balthus captures an intimate moment of repose featuring a woman and her cat amidst serene surroundings—a timeless depiction of quiet contemplation that invites you to explore the artist’s distinctive vision.

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #19: Getting Up

Art Movement: Expressionist Nude Painting

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17731 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$930159 × 169 cm Commission at original size

The Moth, 1960, Balthus

1960 · original 162 x 130 cm

Explore Balthus’s haunting Expressionist masterpiece, ‘The Moth,’ capturing a woman's intimate gaze before a bed in 1960 Nouveau Réalisme – immerse yourself in this enigmatic artwork and discover its timeless beauty.

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #20: The Moth

Art Movement: Nouveau Réalisme

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$762130 × 162 cm Commission at original size

The Cat in the Mirror – Balthus

1990 · original 195 x 220 cm

Experience Balthus's mysterious Expressionism in The Cat in the Mirror (1990), featuring a woman, cat, and mirror; discover this captivating piece today.

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #21: The Cat in the Mirror

Art Movement: Expressionism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17733 × 31 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1391220 × 195 cm Commission at original size

Terese Dreaming

Art Movement: Symbolism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 22 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17730 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Nude in Profile by Balthus, 1975

1975

Discover Balthus’s ‘Nude in Profile,’ a captivating 1975 oil painting showcasing Naive Art & Primitivism. Explore its classical style, melancholic atmosphere, and the artist's unique vision.

Art Movement: Other
Color Palette: Dark

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 23 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17730 × 33 cm Commission this artwork

Girl with Cat

Art Movement: Symbolism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 24 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17730 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Japanese Girl with a Black Mirror (1967)

1967

View the most popular artwork of Balthus ranked #25: Japanese Girl with a Black Mirror

Art Movement: Expressionism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 25 of 200 artworks by Balthus
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17736 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

Balthus

1908 – 2001

Quick facts

Art periodModern
Copyright statusUnder copyright
Gift suitabilityanniversary
Color intensitybalanced, vivid
Room fitliving room
Best occasionsaccent
Typical colorsearthy, neutrals
NationalityFrance

Biography

A World Apart: The Enigmatic Vision of Balthus

Balthasar Klossowski de Rola, known to the world as Balthus, remains one of the most compelling and controversial figures in 20th-century art. Born in Paris on February 29, 1908, into a family steeped in intellectual and artistic circles, his life was marked by an early immersion in culture and a deliberate rejection of prevailing artistic trends. His father, Erich Klossowski, was a respected art historian, while his mother, Baladine Klossowska, was a painter herself, fostering an environment where aesthetic contemplation was not merely encouraged but lived. This upbringing instilled in the young Balthus a deep reverence for the Old Masters and a skepticism towards the burgeoning avant-garde movements that dominated the Parisian scene. He wasn’t interested in breaking with tradition; rather, he sought to revitalize classical forms with a distinctly modern sensibility, creating a world uniquely his own—a world often unsettling, always captivating.

Formative Years and Artistic Awakening

Balthus's early life was nomadic, disrupted by the outbreak of World War I and his parents’ subsequent separation. These experiences instilled in him a sense of displacement and introspection that would profoundly influence his artistic vision. He began drawing at a remarkably young age, demonstrating an exceptional talent for capturing form and atmosphere. Mentored by Rainer Maria Rilke during his mother's relationship with the poet, Balthus received encouragement to pursue his artistic inclinations. This period was crucial in shaping his aesthetic sensibilities; Rilke’s poetic explorations of inner life resonated deeply with the young artist, fostering a fascination with psychological depth and symbolic resonance. He absorbed influences from diverse sources—pre-Renaissance Italian painters like Piero della Francesca and Simone Martini, as well as literary figures such as Emily Brontë and Lewis Carroll—creating a unique artistic language that defied easy categorization. His early works already hinted at the themes that would define his career: adolescence, solitude, and the complex interplay between innocence and desire.

Controversy and Recognition

Balthus first exhibited publicly in 1934, presenting a body of work that immediately sparked controversy. Paintings like The Guitar Lesson, with its ambiguous depiction of a young girl receiving instruction from an older man, ignited debate about the artist’s intentions and the nature of his gaze. Critics were divided, some condemning the perceived eroticism while others praised the painting's psychological complexity and technical mastery. This controversy, however, only served to solidify Balthus’s reputation as a provocative and unconventional artist. He deliberately cultivated an air of mystery around himself, resisting attempts at biographical interpretation and insisting that his paintings should be experienced directly, without the filter of external commentary. Throughout the 1930s and 40s, he continued to develop his distinctive style, characterized by elongated figures, dramatic lighting, and a meticulous attention to detail. His compositions often featured young girls in states of reverie or contemplation, their poses both graceful and unsettling.

A Legacy of Introspection and Influence

Despite remaining somewhat aloof from the mainstream art world, Balthus achieved significant recognition during his lifetime. He held major exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in New York (1956) and throughout Europe, solidifying his position as a leading figure in 20th-century painting. In 1977, he was appointed director of the Académie de France in Rome, a prestigious post that further cemented his status within the artistic establishment. His influence can be seen in the work of numerous contemporary artists, including Jan Saudek, Will Barnet, Duane Michals, and John Currin, who share his interest in figurative painting, psychological realism, and the exploration of complex emotional states. Balthus’s legacy extends beyond his technical skill; he challenged conventional notions of beauty and representation, forcing viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about desire, power, and the human condition. He died in 2001, leaving behind a body of work that continues to provoke, intrigue, and inspire. The Fondation Beyeler and the Balthus Foundation continue to preserve his legacy, ensuring that future generations will encounter the enigmatic world he so meticulously created. His paintings are not merely images; they are portals into a realm of dreams, anxieties, and unspoken desires—a testament to the enduring power of art to challenge our perceptions and illuminate the hidden corners of the human soul.

Key Works and Enduring Themes

Throughout his career, Balthus consistently returned to certain motifs and themes. La Rue (1933) exemplifies his early mastery of composition and atmosphere, depicting a street scene with an unsettling sense of isolation. The Mountain (1937), a monumental work featuring two adolescent girls in a stark landscape, embodies the artist’s fascination with youth and solitude. Later works, such as Girl at a Window (1957) – famously featured in François Truffaut's film Domicile Conjugal – showcase his ability to capture fleeting moments of introspection and vulnerability. His paintings are often characterized by a sense of stillness and silence, inviting viewers to contemplate the inner lives of his subjects. He was also deeply influenced by music, particularly the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, which he believed reflected the same balance between order and emotion that he sought to achieve in his art. Balthus’s enduring appeal lies not only in his technical virtuosity but also in his ability to tap into universal human experiences—the longing for connection, the fear of isolation, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.

Questions & Answers

How can I see every artwork made by Balthus?

Every work by Balthus on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.

Is there a chronological account of Balthus?

A chronological account of Balthus's work is available on the artist's Chronicle page, where the artworks pass in order of creation, chapter by chapter.

Is there a 3D virtual tour of Balthus's works?

Balthus's artworks can be seen in a 3D gallery on the artist's 3D Museum page.

By the WikiOO.org Editorial Team Updated Aug. 31, 2026

Collector's quiz

What is Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski) primarily known for?
Balthus's father, Erich Klossowski, was a noted expert in the work of which artist?
What did Balthus insist regarding his paintings?
Balthus often embellished stories about his family's ancestry, claiming connections to which nobility?
With whom did Balthus's mother, Baladine Klossowska, have a notable relationship?

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two We paint and send a preview

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three Delivered, certified

Rolled, stretched or framed, insured, with a certificate of authenticity.

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All artworks by Balthus