What was that painting I saw at the Met?

February 20, 2009 8:07 AM

Art Lovers: Help me track down the identity of a painting I saw at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York).

So I checked out the Met during a recent trip to NYC. I briefly stopped by one painting that was interesting enough to dial up on the audio tour thingo, but not interesting enough to remember the artist or the title. Of course, now, I am unable to shake the painting from my mind as I think it would be the perfect inspiration for a story I am thinking of writing: 'Girl with the Pearl Earring' Style

I am in the UK, so naturally heading back to the Met to find out about this painting isn't an option and I have frantically searched Met website for info, but to no avail as their advanced search option doesn't seem to be working. So I have come to the Hivemind to crowd-source an answer:

Here is what I remember. Take all of them with a grain of salt as I have both a shocking memory, and a philistine's eye for art!

- Oil on canvas.

- It was of a girl, perhaps 12 years old, reclining back in a chair in a fairly rustic looking room, maybe her bedroom or a kitchen. There is something just on the painting's left: either a bed.. or a table

- She is wearing a simple dress, I am slightly colour-blind but I at least think it was a very dull pale olive or blue.

- Her hands were behind her head, elbows out, and her head was turned to her right (our left) in deep thought.

- The audio guide narrator said that despite the subject's age, it has a sensual quality about it, mainly because her feet rested on something as she sat, revealing quite a bit of leg. I must stress that my reasons for tracking down this painting are entirely pure!

- I am fairly sure it is comparitively recent, but painted in a realistic style (ie not a weird post-modern, cubist kinda deal). There were a few Picassos close by so I am leaning more towards late 19th-early 20th century. The colours were quite subdued, it is definitely not in the Impressionist-style. more photo-realistic if you know what I mean.

- The artist's name might be something like 'Guzot' or 'Buzot'

- The title contains the subject's name. A Latin sounding girls name, leading me to suspect that the artist is from Spain or Portugal. But the world 'Belgian' also seems to bob about my head when I think about this painting. Somewhere in Western Europe at least!

- I can't for the life of me work out where I saw it. The Met is something of a maze.

So yeah.. I hope thats enough information for it to twig in art boffin's mind. My email is in the profile if you think of any more questions, else post below and i will try to answer. Many thanks!

posted by TheOtherGuy to media & arts (8 comments total)

Balthus!
posted by vacapinta at 8:16 AM on February 20

Mary Cassatt?
posted by mattbucher at 8:16 AM on February 20

Oh yeah, gotta be Balthus.
posted by mattbucher at 8:24 AM on February 20

Is it not possible to contact the Met via email and ask them about their collection on the date you visited? If you also remember the approximate location of this piece within the museum, that will help the curator(s) to assist you. Believe me, curators are obsessive about collections and some enthusiastic person will remember and probably greatly appreciate your inquisitiveness.
posted by Piscean at 8:31 AM on February 20

Thérèse révant by Balthus. This is the room it is in at the museum.
posted by fire&wings at 8:32 AM on February 20

Thats Therese Revant, by the way. The painter Balthus, although a great painter is a bit controversial. I recommend a good amount of background research before crafting a story around one of his paintings.
posted by vacapinta at 8:32 AM on February 20

Dammit, beaten. But yes, you're thinking the Balthus piece vacapinta is linking to. It's called "Therese Dreaming"
posted by kkokkodalk at 8:32 AM on February 20

Ah yes!.. the cat.. how could I forget the cat??

Therese revant by Balthus is the painting I am looking for.

Vacapinta: you are very right about the background work. My forgetting of this painting had dulled the overt sexuality in it. My story, if it ever gets written, certainly won't have that aspect in it.

Thank you everyone!
posted by TheOtherGuy at 8:42 AM on February 20