The artwork titled “Young girl with white skirt” was created by Balthus in 1955. This painting is executed in oil on canvas and belongs to the genre of nude painting (nu), with Expressionism influences. Presently, it is held in a private collection.
The painting depicts a young girl seated in a subdued pose, with her torso bare and a white skirt draped around her lower body. The artist has used a somber and limited color palette, mainly consisting of earthen tones that focus on the figure, allowing minimal distraction from the background. The expression on the girl’s face is introspective and serene, conveying a sense of stillness. Balthus’s style here is characterized by a certain rawness and directness, capturing the form with a blend of realism and abstraction. The way the light falls across the subject gives the skin a soft luminosity while accentuating the form and texture of the skirt. Despite being rooted in Expressionism, the painting’s precise execution and the quietude it emanates also nod to a classical sensibility.
