Sylvia Colle

A young girl in an armchair sits captivated by a book. Her luminous flesh, blue dress, and vermilion-red slippers contrast with the mottled curtain behind her and an otherwise dusky interior. Balthus built his reputation by painting intimate scenes, often representing adolescent girls. Here he paints Sylvia Colle, the daughter of an art dealer. Balthus’ works were much admired by Picasso, who was one of the earliest collectors of his paintings. The themes of solitude and mystery in Balthus’ art are closely related to Surrealism.