The artwork titled “The Street at Night,” created by Paul Delvaux in 1947, is a prime example of the Metaphysical art movement and falls under the genre of genre painting. This distinguished painting captures an enigmatic nocturnal scene characterized by its dreamlike atmosphere and mysterious undertones.
The artwork features a surreal streetscape bathed in the soft light of the moon. On the left side of the composition, a man dressed in formal attire stands inside a dimly lit interior, gazing pensively through a doorway. The scene transitions to the exterior, where the street is adorned with classical stone statues and street lights casting long shadows on the pavement. In the center, a shirtless man walks along the street towards the horizon, creating a sense of intrigue. On the right, a trio of women in elegant, flowing gowns, rendered with a classical beauty, stand motionless, their backs turned to the viewer, adding to the scene’s enigmatic aura. Additionally, another woman in a red dress stands farther back, contributing to the sense of timelessness and stillness. The entire composition is imbued with an eerie tranquility, a hallmark of Delvaux’s metaphysical approach.
