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Surreal Nudes: Paul Delvaux’s Masterpiece L’Orage Sells for $1.6 Million
BY MARK ANDERSON
Paul Delvaux’s enigmatic nude masterpiece L’Orage (The Storm), painted in August 1962, recently captivated the art world at Bonhams auction in London, achieving $1.6 million (£1,318,900). A hallmark of Delvaux’s surrealist vision, the painting was the top lot of Bonhams’ 20th/21st Century Art Evening Sale, part of their successful 20th/21st Century Art Week, which totaled $11 million in sales.
The Allure of L’Orage
L’Orage reflects Delvaux’s fascination with mystery, human vulnerability, and the subconscious. The painting features a solitary nude woman on the right, holding a red fabric cover as she delicately smells a small red flower. In the background, two nude women embrace under a white blanket, separated from the foreground by a barbed-wire fence. A cottage-like house hosts yet another topless woman, and the entire tableau is set against the backdrop of an ominous thunderstorm, with dark clouds casting a surreal and dramatic effect over the scene.
The painting encapsulates Delvaux’s signature tension between tranquility and unease, highlighting his mastery of juxtaposition: serene figures amidst dramatic, otherworldly settings.
Why Delvaux Focused on Nudes
Delvaux’s focus on nudes was deeply rooted in his artistic and personal history. Initially trained in architecture, he found inspiration in the classical world and the idealized human form. However, his use of nudes diverged from traditional portrayals, creating figures that appear detached, introspective, and often enigmatic.
Psychologically, Delvaux’s obsession with nudes has been linked to early experiences. In interviews, he described his childhood fascination with anatomy and the human body, stemming partly from strict maternal influences that created a sense of repression. His artistic exploration of nudes was an act of liberation, transforming them into timeless, almost mythical beings in surreal landscapes.
Delvaux was also profoundly influenced by 19th-century academic painting, as well as Symbolist poets and artists who sought to evoke inner emotions rather than replicate reality. Female figures became central to his work, embodying mystery, beauty, and the intangible nature of dreams.
Delvaux’s Legacy
Paul Delvaux (1897–1994) remains a pivotal figure in 20th-century art, celebrated for his ability to blend classical technique with surrealist imagination. His fascination with timeless themes—desire, mortality, and the passage of time—finds full expression in L’Orage.
By combining the human form with dreamlike settings, Delvaux invites viewers into a meditative, otherworldly realm. The sale of L’Orage reaffirms his enduring appeal among collectors and solidifies his place as one of the most intriguing voices in surrealism.
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