One of the pieces in "Cats and Girls" by Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski) at The Metropolitan Museum of Art that I found rather intriguing was "Girl with Goldfish" created in 1948. The play on a twisted rivalry between a cat and goldfish is showcased in this piece as the artist shows a direct view of the face of a cat that has what appears to be a knowingly dark smirk on his face as he anticipates the meal that is sure to follow the scene. In case one is unable to reflect this storyline, the artist has also produced another painting of oil on canvas that depicts the aftermath of the cat's devouring of the goldfish, at least one of them. The girl is no longer present within the scene of the aftermath of the event, as though to convey that such an act is not appropriate for the eyes of an innocent young lady, and the cat has a rather pleased look over what he has accomplished.
It has been said that Balthus created the cat as a direct representation of himself and part of me views this as him showcasing his greed and hunger for what others may have. Maybe this is part of the reason why he created so many paintings representing the female form, through his desire for maybe not the actual form of the young women, but the innocent and graceful nature that they represent. Perhaps he made himself into the cat to show his desire to have the grace and confident nature that cats tend to convey. Maybe this is a bit too philosophical of an interpretation, but after all it is only a possible interpretation.
Balthus-Girl with Goldfish (1948)
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