Balthus

Balthus (1908-2001) was a master of figurative art. Self-taught and self-invented, he created a poetic but private universe, remaining faithful to a few themes: brooding landscapes, portraits that revealed the inner lives of their subjects, young girls and knowing cats. This profile centres on a rare interview with this enigmatic artist, filmed at his home in Switzerland, in which he talked about his long life, his approach to painting, his inspiration, his subject matter, the vicissitudes of ageing, and the modern world.