“The Congress” is an oil painting on canvas created by the artist Paul Delvaux in 1941, belonging to the Surrealism art movement. This genre painting, measuring 160 by 180 centimeters, captures a surreal and enigmatic scene, characteristic of Delvaux’s oeuvre.
The artwork depicts an assembly within a grand hall, with architectural features including large, arched windows and a high, glass ceiling. On the left, a group of men dressed in formal attire engage in an intense and whispered discussion, their postures and expressions suggestive of secrecy or intrigue. The men stand on a raised platform, separated from the room’s central area. To the right, contrasting dramatically with the clothed figures, are several nude or semi-nude women, one of whom wears a striking red hat adorned with elaborate details. These women stand nonchalantly, seemingly ignoring their male counterparts’ actions. Further in the background, a table of seated men in dark suits adds to the painting’s formal and somewhat austere atmosphere. The juxtaposition of the dressed men and undressed women, along with the precise yet surreal composition, creates a thought-provoking and dream-like narrative, characteristic of Delvaux’s surrealist style.
