
Banned Book No. 5 (Balthus Variation)
2019
A figure in a dark blue garment is depicted in a prone, crawling position against a deep teal wall, rendered in acrylic with precise modeling and restrained color. The composition employs sharp tonal contrasts between the figure's pale skin, dark hair and clothing, and the austere background, creating an atmosphere of psychological tension. A small book lies on the floor near the figure's outstretched hand, introducing narrative ambiguity into the carefully constructed scene. The work demonstrates meticulous control of light and shadow, with the figure's form emerging from the cool, monochromatic ground with sculptural solidity. The painting combines realist figuration with an unsettling emotional register, inviting contemplation of constraint, vulnerability, and intellectual suppression.
- Medium
- Acrylic on canvas mounted on wood panel
- Dimensions
- Location
- David Zwirner 69th Street, New York, NY
Notes
From the exhibition 'Set in Stone' at David Zwirner 69th Street, NYC, May 12 to June 26, 2026, in collaboration with Galerie Kugel, Paris. Tombstone date: 2019-2020. Exhibition Only (not for sale at this show).
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