Portrait of Balthus

Balthus: Catalogue of the 100 Most Famous Paintings

Updated oktoober 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 200 works by Balthus in our catalogue

Kokkuvõte

Tänav (1933) is recorded as the most famous painting of Balthus. Tüdruk kassaga (1937) and The Guitar Lesson (1934) occupy the second and third entries. Of the 200 works by Balthus recorded in the catalogue, the 100 best known are listed below, each entry with its date, the holding museum and a note on the work.

1908 – 2001, Pariis Symbolism Most works: Art Institute of Chicago

Entries 1 to 10: the most famous Balthus paintings

1
Tänav (1933) by Balthus

Tänav

1933 · Õlimaal kangaruumil

Balthusi maal "Tee" (1933) on rohkem kui pelgalt linnameene kujutamine; see on sümbolistlik aken inimhinge keerukusesse, peegeldades ühtlasi kaaja ajastu kunstilisi voolusid. Suureformaadiline teos (195 x 240 cm) kutsub vaatajat astuma müstilisse linnaruumisse, kus igapäevased tegevused muutuvad sürreaalseks tantsuks ja igihaljas vaade peegeldab inimsuhete mitmekihilisust. Maal on osa WahooArt.com kollektsioonist, mis pakub võimalust omandada kõrgekvaliteedilisi reproduktsioone kuulsa kunstniku meistriteostest.

2
Tüdruk kassaga (1937) by Balthus

Tüdruk kassaga

1937 · Õlimaal kangaruumil · Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

"Tüdruk kassiga" (1937) on Balthuse lummav meistriteos, mis on kuulus oma unenäolike kompositsioonide ja psühholoogiliselt sügavate portreede poolest. See teos kutsub vaatajat sisse intiimsesse hetki noore tüdruku ja tema kassi vahel, tekitades rahu ja enesearutluse tunde.

3
The Guitar Lesson (1934) by Balthus

The Guitar Lesson

1934 · Oil On Canvas

The air in the room feels heavy, thick with a silence that is not peaceful. A young girl lies arched across the lap of a woman, her body a pale curve against the darker tones of the setting. The teacher’s hands are positioned with a clinical, almost musical intent, yet the gesture is fraught with a strange, unsettling weight. One hand reaches toward the girl's hair, pulling it downward, while…

4
La Patience (Solitaire) by Balthus

La Patience (Solitaire)

Oil On Canvas

A young woman leans over a small wooden table, her body forming a heavy diagonal that pulls the eye toward the lower right corner of the canvas. She is caught in a moment of stillness, her posture suggesting a quiet, inward focus. The room is defined by the sharp, vertical rhythm of window blinds, their white and tan stripes cutting through the warmth of the scene. Deep reds, ochres, and…

5
Guitar lesson (1934) by Balthus

Guitar lesson

1934 · Oil On Canvas

The painting depicts a provocative encounter between a music teacher, a woman in her early twenties, and a student, a girl thought to be about twelve years old. The teacher has thrown the girl across her lap, pulling her black dress up over her waist. The girl is naked from her navel to her knees, though her lower legs are covered by white socks. The teacher's hand yanks a chunk…

10
The white skirt (1937) by Balthus

The white skirt

1937 · Oil On Canvas

In the hushed atmosphere of Balthus’s 1937 masterpiece, The White Skirt, we are invited into a moment of profound stillness. The painting presents a solitary young woman seated within the embrace of an armchair, her presence commanding yet deeply introspective. There is an undeniable gravity to the composition; the figure does not merely sit, she exists in a state of quiet contemplation that seems to suspend time itself. As one…

Balthus, further entries: 11 to 100

11Children Blanchard (1937) by BalthusChildren Blanchard1937 12Therese by BalthusTherese 13Naked in the mirror (1981) by BalthusNaked in the mirror1981 14The Dream (1955) by BalthusThe Dream1955 15Thérèse Dreaming (1938) by BalthusThérèse Dreaming1938 16Large landscape trees (the triangular field) (1955) by BalthusLarge landscape trees (the triangular field)1955 17Nude at Rest (1977) by BalthusNude at Rest1977 18The Mountain by BalthusThe Mountain 19Figure in Front of a Mantel (1955) by BalthusFigure in Front of a Mantel1955 20Study to ''Guitar lesson'' (1934) by BalthusStudy to ''Guitar lesson''1934 21Self-Portrait (detail) (1940) by BalthusSelf-Portrait (detail)1940 22The Cat in the Mirror (1988) by BalthusThe Cat in the Mirror1988 23Patience (1955) by BalthusPatience1955 24Getting Up (1977) by BalthusGetting Up1977 25Terese Dreaming by BalthusTerese Dreaming 26La Place du Pantheon (1929) by BalthusLa Place du Pantheon1929 · Iisraeli muuseum 27Window (1933) by BalthusWindow1933 28Landscape Champrovent (1942) by BalthusLandscape Champrovent1942 29The victim (1939) by BalthusThe victim1939 30The heyday (1945) by BalthusThe heyday1945 31Reclining Nude (1945) by BalthusReclining Nude1945 32The Cat (detail) (1949) by BalthusThe Cat (detail)1949 33The toilet (1957) by BalthusThe toilet1957 34Coffee Cup (1959) by BalthusCoffee Cup1959 35Girl preparing for the bath (blue cloth) (1958) by BalthusGirl preparing for the bath (blue cloth)1958 36The moth (1959) by BalthusThe moth1959 37The Three Sisters (1964) by BalthusThe Three Sisters1964 38Katia asleep (1969) by BalthusKatia asleep1969 39Study for the painting ''Nude Resting'' (1972) by BalthusStudy for the painting ''Nude Resting''1972 40Bare rest (1977) by BalthusBare rest1977 41Waiting (1995) by BalthusWaiting1995 42Cat with mirror III Detalj 1Thomas Ammann Fi (1994) by BalthusCat with mirror III Detalj 1Thomas Ammann Fi1994 43Still Life with Lamp (1958) by BalthusStill Life with Lamp1958 44Study for Girl with a window by BalthusStudy for Girl with a window 45The enthronement of Ogier by BalthusThe enthronement of Ogier 46Lucrecia y Tarquino by BalthusLucrecia y Tarquino 47Roger and his son by BalthusRoger and his son 48Tadzio II, a disgrace in the lido by BalthusTadzio II, a disgrace in the lido 49Solitaire by BalthusSolitaire 50The Living Room by BalthusThe Living Room 51Moroccan Horseman and his Horse by BalthusMoroccan Horseman and his Horse 52Nude with Cat (1949) by BalthusNude with Cat1949 53The Cat in the Mirror (1990) by BalthusThe Cat in the Mirror1990 54Drawing room (1942) by BalthusDrawing room1942 55Reclining Woman by BalthusReclining Woman 56Portrait of Frederick by BalthusPortrait of Frederick 57The Brat by BalthusThe Brat 58Study for Nude with Cat by BalthusStudy for Nude with Cat 59Girl with Crossed Arms by BalthusGirl with Crossed Arms 60Strumpelpeter, front view by BalthusStrumpelpeter, front view 61Portrait of Frederick1 by BalthusPortrait of Frederick1 62Portrait of Louis -René des Forêts by BalthusPortrait of Louis -René des Forêts 63Girl kneeling, her arms on a chair by BalthusGirl kneeling, her arms on a chair 64Girl with a Beret by BalthusGirl with a Beret 65Ganimedes I by BalthusGanimedes I 66Ogier Lahire Brother in arms1 by BalthusOgier Lahire Brother in arms1 67Roberte attacked by spirits by BalthusRoberte attacked by spirits 68Self-portrait by BalthusSelf-portrait 69Colette profile by BalthusColette profile 70The balcony by BalthusThe balcony 71Roberte, the afternoon by BalthusRoberte, the afternoon 72The parallel by BalthusThe parallel 73Milady con el verdugo de Lille by BalthusMilady con el verdugo de Lille 74Impotence and seduction by BalthusImpotence and seduction 75The test time by BalthusThe test time 76Study for the dream I (front) by BalthusStudy for the dream I (front) 77Alice by BalthusAlice 78The Afternoon Nap by BalthusThe Afternoon Nap 79Lena arms crossed by BalthusLena arms crossed 80Bust of young woman by BalthusBust of young woman 81Descend to the basement by BalthusDescend to the basement 82Lahire and young Ogier de Beauseant by BalthusLahire and young Ogier de Beauseant 83Hairy Beauty by BalthusHairy Beauty 84Nude on a Chaise Longue by BalthusNude on a Chaise Longue 85Brother and Sister by BalthusBrother and Sister 86Woman with Violin by BalthusWoman with Violin 87Nude with Arms Raised by BalthusNude with Arms Raised 88The large enclosure II by BalthusThe large enclosure II 89The First Communicants (1926) by BalthusThe First Communicants1926 90The Barracks (1933) by BalthusThe Barracks1933 91Wash and Cathy (1933) by BalthusWash and Cathy1933 92The Fear of Ghosts (1933) by BalthusThe Fear of Ghosts1933 93Thérèse (1938) by BalthusThérèse1938 94Lady Abdy (1935) by BalthusLady Abdy1935 95Cathy (1935) by BalthusCathy1935 96Study for the Dream I (1935) by BalthusStudy for the Dream I1935 97Still life (1937) by BalthusStill life1937 98The white skirt (1937) by BalthusThe white skirt1937 99Joan Miro and his daughter Dolores (1937) by BalthusJoan Miro and his daughter Dolores1937 100Andre Derain (1936) by BalthusAndre Derain1936

Principal subjects in the work of Balthus

The four subjects most frequently represented among these works, each with its best-known example.

Balthus: holding museums

The 2 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Balthus Paintings from this list
Art Institute of Chicago, ChicagoArt Institute of Chicago Chicago 1 Tüdruk kassaga
Iisraeli muuseum, JeruzalemIisraeli muuseum Jeruzalem 1 La Place du Pantheon

Decade index: the principal Balthus painting of each

Works per decade

Select a decade to display its principal painting.

Questions frequently consulted on Balthus's paintings

What is the best-known work of Balthus?Display the answer

Tänav (1933). The following entries are Tüdruk kassaga (1937) and The Guitar Lesson (1934).

How old was Balthus in the year of Tänav?Display the answer

25 years: Balthus was born in 1908 and Tänav is dated 1933.

What are the ten best-known works by Balthus?Display the answer

Tänav, Tüdruk kassaga, The Guitar Lesson, La Patience (Solitaire), Guitar lesson, Girl at the window, The King of the Cats, The Cat in the Mediterranean, Le passage du Commerce Saint-Andre Private and The white skirt. The list above records the date and holding museum of each.

How many works by Balthus does the catalogue record?Display the answer

The catalogue records 200 works by Balthus, dated between 1926 and 1995.

Where are the principal works of Balthus held?Display the answer

Principally in Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago) and Iisraeli muuseum (Jeruzalem). The museum table above gives the full distribution.

During which period did Balthus produce the best-known works?Display the answer

In 1930s: 22 of the 100 works listed on this page are dated to that period, including Tänav.

What are the earliest and latest best-known works by Balthus?Display the answer

The earliest dated work listed here is The First Communicants (1926); the latest is Waiting (1995).

What subjects did Balthus treat most often?Display the answer

Nudes (11), Buildings (8) and Women (8), out of the 100 works listed on this page.

What medium did Balthus employ most often?Display the answer

Oil On Canvas, in 10 of the 100 works listed on this page.

To which art movement is Balthus attributed?Display the answer

Symbolism, as documented by the works on this page.

Biography of Balthus

Varane Elu ja Kunstiline Ärkamine

Balthasar Klossowski de Rola, maailmale tuntud kui Balthus, on 20. sajandi kunstimaailma kõige põnevamaid ja vaidluseid tekitavaid figuurisid. Ta sündis Pariisis 29. veebruaril 1908. aastal intellektuaalsete ja kunstiringkondade perekonda, ning tema elu oli varakult sügavalt seotud kultuuriga ja tahtliku vastuseisuga valitsevatele kunstisuundadele. Tema isa, Erich Klossowski, oli austatud kunstiajaloolane, ema Baladine Klossowska aga maalikunstnik, luues keskkonna, kus esteetiline mõtlemine ei olnud mitte ainult soovitatud, vaid elatav. See kasvatus andis noorele Balthusele sügava austuse vanade meistrite vastu ja skeptitsismi Pariisi kunstielu domineerinud avangardiliikumiste suhtes. Ta ei soovinud traditsioonidega lõhkuda; pigem tahtis ta ellu äratada klassikalisi vorme omalaadse modernse tundlikkusega, luues oma unikaalse maailma – maailma, mis oli sageli rahutu, kuid alati lummav. Esimesed eluaastad olid Balthusele rändavad, katkestatud Esimese maailmasõja puhkemise ja vanemate hilisema lahutuse tõttu. Need kogemused andsid talle tunnetuse paigutusest ning sissepoole suunatuse, mis mõjutasid sügavalt tema kunstilist visiooni. Ta alustas joonistamist üllatavalt noorelt, demonstreerides erakordset annet vormi ja atmosfääri tabamiseks. Tema ema Baladine Klossowska suhtest luuletaja Rainer Maria Rilkega sai Balthus mentorlus, mis julgustas teda kunstilisi ambitsioone järgima. See periood oli tema esteetiliste tunnetuste kujundamisel kriitilise tähtsusega; Rilke poeetiline uurimine sisemaailma resoneeris sügavalt noore kunstniku sees, soodustades huvi psühholoogilise sügavuse ja sümbolilise resonantsi vastu. Ta omandas mõjutusi mitmesugustest allikatest – renessanss-eelsetelt itaalia maalikunstnikelt nagu Piero della Francesca ja Simone Martini, samuti kirjandustegevuselt Emily Brontëlt ja Lewis Carrollilt –, luues unikaalse kunstikeele, mida oli raske kategoriseerida. Tema varased teosed vihjasid juba tema karjääri defineerinud teemadele: nooruseiga, üksindus ning süütuse ja iha keeruline koosmäng.

Vaidlused ja Tunnustus

Balthus esines avalikkusele esimest korda 1934. aastal, esitledes loomingut, mis kohe tõi kaasa vaidlusi. Maalid nagu *Kitarrilend*, millel kujutati noort tüdrukku vanema mehe õpetuse saamas, süütasid arutelu kunstniku kavatsuste ja tema pilgu olemuse üle. Kriitikud olid jagatud – mõned mõistsid hukka tajutava erootika, teised kiitsid maali psühholoogilist keerukust ja tehnilist meisterlikkust. See vaidlused aga ainult tugevdas Balthusi mainet provokatiivse ja konventsioone rikkuva kunstnikuna. Ta kasvatas tahtlikult müsteeriumi enda ümber, vastupanes biograafilisele tõlgendamisele ning rõhutas, et tema maale tuleks kogeda otse, ilma väliste kommentaaride filtrita. 1930ndatel ja 40ndatel aastatel jätkas ta oma eripärase stiili arendamist, mida iseloomustasid pikendatud figuurid, dramaatiline valgustus ning tähelepanu detailidele. Tema kompositsioonidel oli sageli noori tüdrukuid unistuste või mõtiskluse seisundis, nende poosid olid nii graatsilikud kui ka rahutud.

Introspektsiooni ja Mõju Pärand

Kuigi Balthus jäi peavoolu kunstimaailmast veidi eemale, saavutas ta eluaegse tunnustuse. Ta pidas suuri näitusi New Yorgi Moodsa Kunsti Muuseumis (1956) ja kogu Euroopas, kinnistades oma positsiooni 20. sajandi maalikunstniku olulise figuurina. 1977. aastal määrati ta Rooma Prantsuse Akadeemia direktoriks – prestiižsel kohal, mis tugevdas tema staatust kunstilises eliidis. Tema mõju on näha paljude kaasaegsete kunstnike töödes, sealhulgas Jan Saudeki, Will Barneti, Duane Michalsi ja John Currini loomingus, kes jagavad tema huvi figuurimaali, psühholoogilise realismi ning keeruliste emotsionaalsete seisundite uurimise vastu. Balthusi pärand ulatub kaugemale tema tehnilisest oskusest; ta väljakutse konventsioonilistele ilu ja esinduse mõistetele, sundides vaatajaid silmitsi seadma ebamugava tõega iha, võimu ning inimlikku olukorra kohta. Ta suri 2001. aastal, jättes maha loomingut, mis jätkab provotseerimist, intrigeerimist ja inspireerimist. Fondation Beyeler ja Balthusi Fond hoiavad tema pärandit, tagades et tulevased põlvkonnad kohtavad tema unikaalset maailma. Tema maalid ei ole mitte ainult kujundid; need on portaalid unenägude, ärevuste ning väljendamata soovide valdkonda – tunnistus kunsti kestvast võimest väljakutse meie arusaamadele ja valgustada inimliku hinge varjatud nurki.

Põhitööd ja Püsivad Teemad

Karjääri jooksul pöördus Balthus järjekindlalt teatud motiivide ja teemade juurde. *La Rue* (1933) on näide tema varasest meisterlikkusest kompositsioonis ja atmosfääris, kujutades tänava stseeni rahutu isoleerimistunde. *The Mountain* (1937), monumentaalne töö kahe noore tüdruku kujutisega karmi maastiku taustal, kehastab kunstniku huvi nooruse ja üksinduse vastu. Hilisemad tööd, nagu *Girl at a Window* (1957) – kuulsalt esinenud François Truffaut’ filmi Domicile Conjugal –, demonstreerivad tema võimet tabada lühikesi hetki introspektsiooni ja haavatavust. Tema maale iseloomustab sageli paigalseis ja vaikuse tunne, kutsudes vaatajaid mõtisklema oma tegelaste sisemaailma üle. Ta oli ka sügavalt mõjutatud muusikast, eriti Wolfgang Amadeus Mozarti loomingust, mille uskus peegeldavat sama tasakaalu korra ja emotsiooni vahel, mida ta otsis oma kunstis. Balthusi püsiv võlu ei seisne mitte ainult tema tehnilises virtuoossus, vaid ka tema oskuses tabada universaalseid inimkogemusi – soovi ühenduse järele, isolatsiooni hirmule ja tähenduse otsingutele keerulises maailmas.

All 200 works by Balthus →