Baltus--Complete Collection of World Famous Painters

Author: He Zhengguang, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Balthus, a French artist of Polish descent, was recommended by many art historians as one of the greatest painters of the 20th century. He devoted his life to promoting a retro spirit and immersed himself in the reconstruction of figurative painting. His artistic world is often solitary and desolate. Through the illustrated introduction in this book, you can better appreciate the care he took in presenting the essence of human life in his paintings. [Balthus] Balthus is a renowned contemporary French painter born in Paris in 1908. He received a good education in his childhood, which nurtured the seeds of his later artistic creation. He showed extraordinary talent in his youth, and many of his early works were highly praised by prominent figures. His artistic image often appeared in his mature works. In 1934, he held his first personal exhibition in Paris, where his meticulously depicted works reflecting real life exuded a dreamlike atmosphere, leaving a deep impression on viewers. After that, he devoted himself to creation and rarely interacted with the outside world. His outstanding artistic achievements were highly regarded in Western society, especially by the intellectual elite. In 1961, the French Minister of Culture appointed him as the director of the prestigious French Academy in Rome. He engaged in artistic activities in Italy until 1977 and has since lived in seclusion in Switzerland. After the 1980s, his paintings were exhibited in various countries in Europe and America, earning him the reputation as "one of the greatest painters of the 20th century in the West." Balthus never attended an art school but achieved success through his diligent efforts and unwavering artistic convictions. In the Western world, where modernist art was dominant, he never compromised on fashion and insisted on expressing his true feelings as a modern painter through realistic techniques. His portraits, still lifes, and landscapes were the result of meticulous and serious thinking and depiction. His character, like his works, was profound and radiant, refusing to use his art as a tool for fame and fortune. He held a great interest in China and Chinese art, and the significant influence of Eastern art on his work can be seen in his creations. In June 1995, the "Balthus Exhibition" came to China, and his daughter attended the opening ceremony on behalf of the elderly painter, reading a heartfelt letter from her father to the Chinese audience. For Balthus, who was reluctant to promote himself, this was an extremely rare and extraordinary act.