“Thérèse dreaming,” created by the artist Balthus in 1938, is an oil on canvas painting that exemplifies the Expressionism movement. This genre painting depicts a young girl, Thérèse, in a moment of contemplation or slumber, marked by its emotive and somewhat mysterious atmosphere.
In the artwork, a girl is seen seated on a small chair with her legs drawn up and her eyes closed, suggesting a state of dreaming or introspection. She wears a short-sleeved dress and red slippers, with one leg casually draped over the other, and she holds her arms above her head. The setting appears to be an interior space, featuring a side table with a vase and other objects, a backward-turned chair, and a piece of draped cloth, adding to the informal and intimate ambiance of the scene. On the floor in the foreground, a cat drinks from a shallow dish, further enhancing the domestic and tranquil quality of the painting. The muted and earthy tones of the composition impart a nostalgic and serene mood to the artwork.
