Tribute to Jules Verne 1971

Paul Delvaux painted *Tribute to Jules Verne* with oil on canvas. It's hard to pin down exactly when, but the marks feel so sure, so deliberate. What gets me about this piece is how the figures are illuminated. The paint is thin and luminous, like a veil of light. It reminds me of early Renaissance frescoes, where the artists were trying to capture the ethereal quality of light filtering through stained glass. Look at the way the light glazes over the skin of the figures, almost making them glow from within. There's a contrast between the smooth, almost porcelain-like finish of the figures and the rougher texture of the architectural elements in the background. I'm reminded of the Surrealist project more generally, like a painting by de Chirico, but the specificity of the subjects feels very personal. It's a dreamscape, but one rooted in a very particular sense of nostalgia. Ultimately it remains ambiguous, embracing multiple readings.