A naked statue 1946

Paul Delvaux painted this large oil on canvas – A Naked Statue – and the coolness of the palette seems very deliberate, like a choice. I’m always drawn to the surfaces of paintings. Here, the paint application is pretty smooth, but look closer, and you notice how Delvaux varies the handling; the skin tones are built up with delicate layers, while the architectural elements are more linear. I like the way he contrasts the soft curves of the figures with the rigid geometry of the setting, and how he makes the figures feel isolated. Take the woman with her hair draped over her shoulder, see how her skin is illuminated against the deep night sky. Delvaux had a strong interest in classical art, and this piece reminds me of a David or Ingres, but stranger. It’s as if he's staging a dream, borrowing from the past, to make something totally new. And just like any good dream, it’s a little bit open to interpretation.