The artwork titled “Study to ‘Guitar lesson'” by the artist Balthus, created in 1934, is a pencil drawing on paper. It belongs to the Expressionism art movement and measures 30 x 40 cm. The piece is categorized as a sketch and study, demonstrating the artist’s preparatory work for a more complete painting.
The artwork meticulously explores the form and drapery, focusing on the rendering of an arm and a piece of fabric. The pencil lines are delicate yet precise, capturing the softness and texture of the cloth. The shading varies in intensity, bringing out the folds and the anatomy of the arm beneath. The minimalistic approach leaves much to the viewer’s imagination, reflecting Balthus’s adept skill in conveying complex forms with simplicity and subtlety.
