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Paul Delvaux Most Popular Paintings

The 25 artworks by Paul Delvaux our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 25 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Paul Delvaux · 1897 – 1994

The Sleeping Venus

1944 · Tate Gallery, London · original 173 x 199 cm

Paul Delvaux’s ‘The Sleeping Venus’ – a haunting surreal masterpiece. Explore classical beauty & unsettling dreams in this 1944 oil painting. A captivating work of art.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$22734 × 30 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1197199 × 173 cm Commission at original size

Night Train

1947 · original 153 x 210 cm

Delvaux’s "Night Train" (1947): A haunting Surrealist masterpiece of classical beauty & psychological unease. Explore this 153x210cm oil painting's dreamlike world.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$22737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1131210 × 153 cm Commission at original size

The Sleeping Venus

1943 · original 74 x 158 cm

Discover Paul Delvaux’s ‘The Sleeping Venus’ (1943). A surreal masterpiece blending classical beauty & unsettling dreams. Explore this iconic oil painting's unique style & historical context.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$25246 × 22 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$565158 × 74 cm Commission at original size

Paul Delvaux’s surreal Nodes Rose depicts two nude women amidst a dreamlike gathering, showcasing the artist's signature style from 1937. Explore this captivating artwork and bring its unsettling beauty into your space.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17736 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$713160 × 121 cm Commission at original size

Pygmallion

1939 · original 117 x 147 cm

Paul Delvaux’s surrealist masterpiece, Pygmallion, presents a captivating scene of a woman interacting with nude statues, embodying the dreamlike atmosphere characteristic of the 1930s. Explore this iconic artwork and bring its enigmatic beauty into your space.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17735 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$650147 × 117 cm Commission at original size

The Awakening of the forest

1939 · original 150 x 200 cm

Paul Delvaux's "The Awakening of the Forest" presents a surreal dreamscape of nude figures in a dense forest, showcasing the artist’s signature style from the 1930s. Explore this captivating artwork and bring its mystery into your collection.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1020200 × 150 cm Commission at original size

Dawn of the Town

1940 · original 175 x 215 cm

Paul Delvaux’s "Dawn of the Town" presents a haunting surrealist dreamscape with nude figures and umbrellas, capturing the artist's signature style from 1940. Explore this iconic artwork and bring its enigmatic beauty into your space.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17734 × 30 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1239215 × 175 cm Commission at original size

The Canape Vert

1944 · original 130 x 210 cm

Explore Paul Delvaux's surreal dreamscape of 'The Canape Vert,' a captivating 1944 masterpiece blending classical forms with enigmatic figures; discover this timeless Belgian vision today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17738 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$942210 × 130 cm Commission at original size

The Garden

1971 · original 140 x 190 cm

Explore Paul Delvaux's surreal dreamscape of 'The Garden,' featuring serene figures amidst lush nature; bring this captivating 1971 masterpiece home.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$922190 × 140 cm Commission at original size

For the Brussels Luxembourg Station

1922 · original 125 x 120 cm

Delvaux’s haunting depiction of Brussels Luxembourg Station captures Surrealist dreamlike realism—a monumental steam engine train dominates a vibrant station scene teeming with figures bathed in an ethereal glow. Explore this evocative masterpiece by Paul Delvaux, born 1897, and discover its captivating allure.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17731 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$587120 × 125 cm Commission at original size

Small Train Station at Night

1959

Explore the mystery of Paul Delvaux's surreal 1959 train station at night, a dreamlike journey blending academic beauty with enigmatic mood; discover this masterpiece today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17735 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

The Deposition

1951 · original 154 x 268 cm

Explore Paul Delvaux's surreal 1951 masterpiece, The Deposition, featuring eerie skeletal figures and dreamlike melancholy; discover this iconic work today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17742 × 24 cm Commission this artwork

Phases of the Moon

1939 · original 139 x 160 cm

Explore the mysterious dreamscapes of Paul Delvaux's surrealism with Phases of the Moon (1939), featuring enigmatic figures and objects for a captivating piece to own.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17734 × 30 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$796160 × 139 cm Commission at original size

Chrysis

1967 · original 160 x 140 cm

Discover 'Chrysis' by Paul Delvaux – a haunting surrealist painting of a nude woman on stairs. Explore this 1967 Belgian masterpiece’s dreamlike beauty & iconic style.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$801140 × 160 cm Commission at original size

The entrance to the city

1940 · original 170 x 190 cm

Surrealist masterpiece by Paul Delvaux depicting nude women strolling through a city street, capturing the unsettling beauty of his 1940s dreamscapes – explore this iconic artwork and bring its captivating vision home.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17733 × 30 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1086190 × 170 cm Commission at original size

Woman in a Cave

1936 · original 71 x 91 cm

Discover Paul Delvaux’s ‘Woman in a Cave,’ a surreal masterpiece from 1936. Explore its dreamlike landscape, classical figures & rich textures in this iconic oil painting.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20235 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$36391 × 71 cm Commission at original size

Reclining Nude

1934 · original 115 x 155 cm

Paul Delvaux’s surreal ‘Reclining Nude’ captures a dreamlike scene of a woman in bed, showcasing the artist's signature style and unsettling realism from the 1930s. Discover this captivating artwork and bring its timeless beauty into your space.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$668155 × 115 cm Commission at original size

The Cortege

1963 · original 122 x 244 cm

Discover Paul Delvaux's surreal 1963 masterpiece, The Cortege, featuring nine candle-lit figures on a dreamlike path; own this captivating vision today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17745 × 22 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1013244 × 122 cm Commission at original size

Night Sea

1976 · original 150 x 190 cm

Paul Delvaux’s ‘Night Sea’ – a surrealist masterpiece of nude figures & moonlit landscapes. Explore this 1976 oil painting's dreamlike beauty & symbolic depth.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$22736 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1027190 × 150 cm Commission at original size

The Joy of Life

1937 · original 90 x 100 cm

Experience Paul Delvaux’s surreal masterpiece, "The Joy of Life," a captivating 1937 dreamscape featuring enigmatic figures and unsettling realism. This iconic Surrealist artwork invites you to explore its timeless beauty and consider its profound meaning – discover your perfect piece today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17733 × 30 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$412100 × 90 cm Commission at original size

The Village of the Sirens

1942 · original 105 x 127 cm

Paul Delvaux’s "The Village of the Sirens" presents a captivating surrealist scene of serene women and a dog in a dreamlike Belgian village, showcasing the artist's signature style from 1942. Discover this iconic artwork and bring its enigmatic beauty into your space.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17734 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$538127 × 105 cm Commission at original size

Tribute to Jules Verne

1971 · original 150 x 120 cm

Surrealist masterpiece by Paul Delvaux, 1971, depicts nude figures on a beach in a dreamlike tableau reminiscent of Jules Verne's fantastical worlds – explore this captivating artwork and bring it home.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 22 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$673150 × 120 cm Commission at original size

Salut

1938 · original 90 x 120 cm

Paul Delvaux’s surreal ‘Salut’ presents a haunting dreamscape featuring a man and woman before an enigmatic building, capturing the artist's signature style from 1938. Discover this captivating artwork and bring its timeless beauty into your space.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 23 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$464120 × 90 cm Commission at original size

The skeleton has the shell

1944 · original 122 x 100 cm

Paul Delvaux’s unsettling Surrealist painting ‘The Skeleton Has the Shell’ 1944 depicts skeletal figures in a dreamlike room with chairs and a clock, capturing a haunting mood perfect for art lovers.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 24 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$505100 × 122 cm Commission at original size

The Congress

1941 · original 160 x 180 cm

Paul Delvaux’s "The Congress" presents a haunting surrealist scene of nude figures in a bizarre room with clocks and objects, capturing the artist's signature dreamlike style from 1941. Discover this iconic artwork and bring its unsettling beauty into your space.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 25 of 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17733 × 30 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$985180 × 160 cm Commission at original size

The artist

Paul Delvaux

1897 – 1994

Quick facts

Corpus themesverne, surrealist dreamscape, surrealism, homer, de chirico's influence
Copyright statusUnder copyright
Gift suitabilityanniversary
Lifespan97 years
Emotional tonemysterious
Topics explorednudes, surrealism, nude figures, women, dreamscape
Works on APS294
Died1994

Biography

The Life and Origins of Paul Delvaux

Paul Delvaux entered the world on 23 September 1897 in Antheit, a location within the Belgian province of Liège that has since become part of Wanze. Born the son of a lawyer, his early years were shaped by the quietude of his birthplace, though his family eventually settled in Brussels. This movement between the provincial landscape of Liège and the urban center of Brussels provided a foundational contrast to his later, more singular preoccupations. He lived a long life, remaining active in his pursuits until his death on 20 July 1994.

His origins were rooted in a certain intellectual discipline, influenced by the classical studies of his youth. The tension between the structured world of his father's profession and the imaginative realms found in the literature of his childhood would eventually manifest in his visual language. While his path was not initially set toward the canvas, the pull of the image proved stronger than the expectations of his lineage. He moved through the decades with a steady, singular focus, maintaining a presence in the Belgian art scene for much of the twentieth century.

Early Life, Family and Training

Born in Antheit, in the Belgian province of Liège, the young Delvaux was raised in an environment of structured learning. His early education was defined by the discipline of classical studies, specifically the study of Greek and Latin. This intellectual grounding was accompanied by the rhythmic precision of music lessons, providing a structured foundation before his creative inclinations began to diverge from his family's expectations. His parents, favoring a more stable and practical vocation, steered him toward the study of architecture. This direction led him to the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, where he pursued architectural training despite his growing pull toward the canvas.

The tension between the rigid lines of architecture and the fluidity of painting eventually resolved into a dedicated artistic practice. While his formal training in architecture provided a deep understanding of perspective and form, his true focus shifted toward the fine arts. He sought the guidance of established figures, studying under Constant Montald, Alfred Bastien, and Jean Delville. These mentors helped refine his technical ability as he moved away from the naturalistic landscapes of his youth toward a more singular vision. By the time he completed a significant body of work between 1920 and 1925, the transition from student to a distinct painter was well underway.

Technique and Artistic Style

Delvaux’s visual language relied on a tension between the rational and the irrational. He employed a hyper-realistic styling and naturalistic landscapes to ground his scenes, yet he frequently paired this precision with the bizarre juxtapositions characteristic of surrealism. His technical approach was meticulous; he used oil to achieve smooth, porcelain textures on skin, a method that lent his figures a statuesque, almost artificial quality. This precision was not a tool for psychological decoding, as he maintained that his imagery emerged from personal memories and impressions rather than a conscious attempt to map the subconscious.

Light and shadow functioned as structural elements in his compositions. Through the use of chiaroscuro, he created dramatic lighting that cast long, heavy shadows across his settings. This technique helped to define the depth of his architectural spaces and the stillness of his subjects. Between 1945 and 1947, his approach underwent a subtle shift toward a flattened style, often utilizing distorted or forced perspective to unsettle the viewer's sense of space. This period allowed him to manipulate the viewer's perception of reality without abandoning his commitment to detailed, believable environments.

Key Works and Major Themes

Delvaux’s canvases are populated by a recurring vocabulary of the subconscious. His imagery frequently centers on the female nude, often placed within settings of classical architecture or desolate landscapes. These figures exist alongside a specific set of motifs: trains, railway stations, and skeletons. These elements create a sense of unease, where the presence of mortality is felt even in seemingly tranquil scenes. The tension between the orderly, permanent nature of stone columns and the transient, often anonymous presence of the human form defines much of his output.

The weight of the era often pressed upon his compositions. In 1941, he produced La ville inquiète, also known as The Anxious City, a work that reflects the chaotic worries and the uncanny routine of a world in upheaval. This sense of psychological tension is also present in The Man in the Street, painted in 1940. Even in his later years, the exploration of the irrational continued; Messaging, completed in 1980, presents a scene of formal, statuesque women on a sidewalk, using a mundane urban backdrop to amplify a sense of detachment.

His large-scale commissions and museum-held works reveal the breadth of his technical precision. La Carte littéraire de Belgique, a 3-by-5-metre oil painting from 1958, demonstrates his ability to map complex narratives across a vast surface. Meanwhile, The Sleeping Venus, held in the Tate Gallery in London, uses a muted palette of deep reds and somber blacks to stage a quiet encounter between classical beauty and the skeletal inevitability of death.

Circle, Rivals and Influences

Delvaux’s aesthetic development was shaped by a tension between the structured and the irrational. His early training under the symbolist painter Jean Delville provided a foundation in classical form, yet his mature vision drifted toward the metaphysical. The stark, enigmatic compositions of Giorgio de Chirico offered a way to marry architectural precision with a sense of profound unease. This encounter allowed him to move beyond the naturalistic landscapes of his youth and into a realm where the logic of the subconscious could take hold.

While he shared a certain kinship with the works of René Magritte, Delvaux remained a solitary figure. He was associated with the Surrealist movement, though he only briefly identified with its formal tenets, preferring to navigate his own dreamlike realism. His work often bypassed the political or ideological fervor of his contemporaries, focusing instead on the quiet, unsettling intersections of desire and mortality. This independence was marked by a refusal to adhere to the strictures of any single group, maintaining a distance that allowed his peculiar imagery to develop without constraint.

The weight of Flemish Expressionism also left its mark on his palette and brushwork. The influence of Constant Permeke and Gustave De Smet lent a somber intensity to his early explorations of the human form. By blending this heavy, expressive tradition with a meticulous, almost photographic technique, he created a visual language that felt both grounded and impossible. He occupied a space between the classical and the bizarre, using the tools of academic painting to render scenes that defied conventional reality.

Legacy and Lasting Influence

The institutional recognition of his career followed a steady ascent through the Belgian academic hierarchy. In 1958, he was elected as a member of the Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium. This professional standing preceded his appointment as director of the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in 1965. These roles reflected a career that, while often operating on the periphery of formal movements, commanded significant respect within the structured world of fine arts education and academic governance.

His influence persists in the contemporary landscape, particularly among artists who utilize the canvas to investigate the mechanics of memory and the complexities of desire. This resonance is not found in a specific school of thought, but in a shared interest in the psychological weight of the image. The Paul Delvaux Foundation, established in 1978, continues to manage his historical footprint, ensuring his specific visual language remains accessible to scholars and observers alike.

The physical weight of his output is preserved in Saint-Idesbald, Belgium, where the Paul Delvaux Museum houses the world's largest collection of his work. This repository maintains the scale of his vision, keeping his specific explorations of the subconscious within reach of the public. His presence in the art historical record is anchored by this central collection and the continued study of his unique, dreamlike realism.

Where to See the Works Today

For those seeking to encounter his visual language in its most concentrated form, the Paul Delvaux Museum in Saint-Idesbald, Belgium, remains the primary destination. This institution houses the largest collection of his output, preserving paintings and drawings from every stage of his career. The museum's footprint was expanded in 1996 with the addition of an underground extension, providing space to accommodate the breadth of his creative life.

Beyond the borders of Belgium, his presence is felt in several major international institutions. The Tate Gallery in London maintains his works within its permanent collection, offering a window into his particular brand of surrealism. Similarly, the Musee de Toyama in Japan holds pieces that reflect his unique approach to the human form and architectural space.

The Sleeping Venus (1944)
Night Train (1947)
The Village of the Sirens (1942)

Questions & Answers

Where can I see Paul Delvaux's artworks in chronological order?

The artist's Artwork Timeline page presents Paul Delvaux's works ordered by date, year by year.

How popular are Paul Delvaux's artworks?

The Stats page of Paul Delvaux presents statistics computed from the artist's artworks listed on this website.

How many artworks by Paul Delvaux are available to browse?

You can browse 294 artworks by Paul Delvaux on the All Artworks page.

By the WikiOO.org Editorial Team Updated Oct. 15, 2026

Collector's quiz

In which Belgian village was Paul Delvaux born?
Which artist's metaphysical paintings significantly influenced Delvaux's development?
What was Delvaux's initial field of study at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts?
Which museum houses the world's largest collection of Delvaux's works?
Which of these works is held in the Tate Gallery, London?

one You choose the size

Standard formats or any custom dimension, matched to the proportions of the original.

two We paint and send a preview

A photo of the finished canvas for your approval before it is shipped.

three Delivered, certified

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

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