The artwork titled “Great Composition with Corbel,” created by Balthus around the year 1985, falls within the Surrealism art movement and belongs to the genre of nude painting (nu).
The artwork presents a nuanced and complex composition dominated by a nude figure reclining on a bed-like structure. One arm of the figure is dramatically outstretched as their head tilts back, exuding a sense of languid repose. The bed is positioned within a rustic, somewhat somber room, with a textured, worn wall that bears subtle hints of abstract markings. A black bird perches on a corbel high on the left wall, adding an element of curiosity and surrealism to the scene. At the foot of the bed stands a smaller figure, seemingly engaged in the act of carrying a green-framed structure akin to a window frame or a mirror. Various stools and a curled-up cat are scattered on the floor, contributing to the dreamlike, surreal atmosphere that characterizes this work.
