L'école des femmes (The School for Women)
Painting on canvas • Paul Delvaux (Belgian, 1897-1994)
Style & Movement
Surrealism / Magic Realism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, utilizing precise linear perspective and smooth, academic glazing typical of the artist's mature style.
Creation Period
October 1970
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 110 x 140 cm; Landscape format
Subject Description
A dreamlike architectural setting featuring a Romanesque or Neo-Byzantine loggia. In the foreground, a seated semi-nude woman draped in blue fabric gestures downward, while in the mid-ground, two standing semi-nude women in elaborate hats and long skirts converse. The composition reflects Delvaux's obsession with classical architecture, melancholic atmospheres, and the female form as a disconnected, somnambulist figure.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; the painting appears well-preserved in a museum-quality environment.
Estimated Market Value
$600,000 - $900,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$500,000 - $800,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely passed through major Brussels or Parisian galleries; typical of works acquired by significant Surrealist collectors. The signature 'P. DELVAUX' and date '10-70' are clearly visible in the lower right corner.
Art Historical Significance
A late-career masterpiece that encapsulates Delvaux's lifelong motifs: the silent, static female nude, the juxtaposition of Victorian dress with nudity, and the meticulously rendered, vacant 'city of the mind.' It represents the Belgian school of Surrealism which prioritized poetic mystery over the psychic automatism of the French school.
Notable Features
Features the artist's signature and specific month-year dating (10-70) in the lower right. The inclusion of the crescent moon and the distinct pale-blue diaphanous fabric are recurring high-quality hallmarks of Delvaux's late works.
Condition Issues
None visible from the image; potential minor fine-line craquelure inherent to aged oil films might be present upon microscopic inspection.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain stable humidity (45-55%) and temperature. Use UV-filtering glass if displayed in natural light. Periodic inspection of the canvas tension is recommended.