
Balthus
Jean Clair(Author)
Thames & Hudson Ltd (Publisher)
Published on 5. November 2001
Book
Hardback
496 pages
978-0-500-09303-0 (ISBN)
Description
From the beginning of his long career, Count Balthazar Klossowski de Rola's work was singled out for its enigmatic qualities. Committed to figurative painting even as abstraction dominated the art scene, his dream-like canvases garnered him praise from the Surrealists. As he gradually embarked on new, incendiary subject matter - populating his paintings with intimate images of pre-pubescent girls - Balthus trod a thin line between innocence and prurience, and fast became one of the most controversial of painters. This is a survey of Balthus's life and work published to coincide with an exhibition at the Palazzo Grassi in Venice in 2001, the year of his death. The book explores his many influences, his long Italian sojourns, his contacts with the theatre, and his love of Chinese painting, the essence of which he frequently invoked in his own work. As well as colour illustrations, this volume contains interviews with the artist, recollections from those who knew him, and essays by various art historians.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
400 colour illustrations
Weight
300 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-500-09303-0 (9780500093030)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Daniel Arasse is the Director of the Musee Picasso in Paris. He is the editor of Balthus's catalogue raisonne and is widely considered the world's foremost authority on the artist's work.
Content
Introduction by Jean Clair Memories of Balthus - essays by Jean Leymarie, Giorgio Soavi, Sandro Manzo, John Russel, Raymond Mason, James Lord The Young Balthus by Sabine Rewald The Influence of the Chinese Countryside in the Painting of Balthus by Xing Xaoshing The Theatre: Cost fan Tutte and the relationship between Balthus and Cassandre by Sylvia Colle Balthus and Pierre-Jean Jouve by Robert Kopp The colour plates