Balthus

Balthasar Klossowski de Rola

French, 1908 - 2001

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This drawing shows a person sitting, their torso facing the left, their head tilted backwards. Their eyes are closed, and their mouth is set in a neutral expression. Their hair is short and straight. The person's face is drawn clearly, but their body and the object they sit on are sketched in light lines, making them hard to see. The person appears unclothed. The background is plain beige paper with some small spots of darker discoloration.
Balthus, Nude Girl Stretched Out on a Chair [recto], 1948, graphite on brown wove paper, Gift of Frank R. and Jeannette H. Eyerly, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1990.69.1.a

Nude Girl Stretched Out on a Chair [recto]

Balthus · 1948 · graphite on brown wove paper ·  Accession ID  1990.69.1.a

The image is a pencil sketch on a blank paper depicting two human figures. The figure on the left is seated with another figure, possibly a child, across their lap. The seated person has short hair. The standing figure on the right is shown from head to toe, wearing minimal clothing like shorts, and holding a circular object above their head with both hands. Facial features are not distinctly visible due to light sketching. The background is simple with some smudges, and the sketch appears unfinished.
Balthus, Figure Studies [verso], 1948, black chalk on wove paper, Gift of Frank R. and Jeannette H. Eyerly, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1990.69.1.b

Figure Studies [verso]

Balthus · 1948 · black chalk on wove paper ·  Accession ID  1990.69.1.b