Balthus quotes

Balthus was a French modern artist known for his enigmatic paintings and unique style blending classical techniques with surreal, dreamlike themes. His works often depict mysterious young figures in ambiguous settings, stirring both admiration and controversy. He is regarded as one of the most fascinating and controversial painters of the 20th century. Here are 10 of his quotes:

Painting is the passage from the chaos of the emotions to the order of the possible. (Balthus)
Painting is a language which cannot be replaced by another language. I don't know what to say about what I paint, really. View quote
Balthus
Painting is a source of endless pleasure, but also of great anguish. View quote
Balthus
One must always draw, draw with the eyes, when one cannot draw with a pencil. View quote
Balthus
Painting what I experience, translating what I feel, is a great liberation. But it is also work, self-examination, consciousness, criticism, struggle. View quote
Balthus
I always feel the desire to look for the extraordinary in ordinary things; to suggest, not to impose, to leave always a slight touch of mystery in my paintings. View quote
Balthus
The best way to begin is to say: 'Balthus is a painter of whom nothing is known. And now let us have a look at the paintings'. View quote
Balthus
I refuse to confide and don't like it when people write about art. View quote
Balthus
The craft of painting has virtually disappeared. There is hardly anyone left who really possesses it. For evidence one has only to look at the painters of this century. View quote
Balthus
I will always find even the worst paintings that attempt some kind of representation better than the best invented paintings. View quote
Balthus

Balthus

Balthus - Image
Photo: Wikimedia commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Occupation: French Artist
Born: February 29, 1908
Died: February 18, 2001
Quotes count: 10

Related authors

Pierre Klossowski  1 
Writer
Alberto Giacometti - thumbnail
Alberto Giacometti  23 
Swiss Sculptor
Lucian Freud - thumbnail
Lucian Freud  33 
British Painter
Fernand Léger  48 
French Artist
Pierre Bonnard - thumbnail
Pierre Bonnard  30 
French Painter
Edward Hopper - thumbnail
Edward Hopper  72 
American Artist
Jean Cocteau - thumbnail
Jean Cocteau  142 
French Writer
Egon Schiele - thumbnail
Egon Schiele  12 
Austrian Artist
Antoni Tàpies - thumbnail
Antoni Tàpies  40 
Spanish Painter
Rene Magritte - thumbnail
Rene Magritte  12 
Belgian Painter