Is showing or selling Balthus, the long-established painter of erotic nudes, a high-risk challenge for the art market?
With his portraits of young girls which can be shocking, he continues to fuel the debate on the limits of artistic representation.
The question resurfaces with the collection of Frédérique Tison, the artist's very young companion and muse, sold at Artcurial on December 8, while the catalog is very discreet on the subject.
However, this is more relevant than ever in the post-Weinstein era with the rise of feminist movements like #MeToo which uncompromisingly call into question many of our old values.
Opinion is divided and the wave of activism coming from America is worrying.
Also read: Balthus, Swiss asylum for a savage
We remember
Thérèse dreaming
(Thérèse Blanchard) that Balthus painted around ten times, between 1936 and 1939, in a posture that was disturbing to say the least.
In 2017, the young girl with the rolled-up skirt…
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