The Symbolic Relationship Between Man And Animals In Balthus’ Paintings

In the whole history of western art,various animal images as an important element occupy an important position from beginning to end.When animal images appear in the picture,it is difficult for viewers to regard these images as mere objects,but they will always find an Angle that can be interpreted to interpret their meaning.In traditional Western art,artists often use some inherent and conventional symbols,but in 20 th century painting,art works are more inclined to personal emotions and symbolic meanings,and the research methods of iconography are no longer applicable when studying the artist’s depiction of the relationship between humans and animals.Balthus is a figurative painter in the 20 th century.His paintings often show some common animals around him,but also reflect the classical shape and personal characteristics.Through studying the animal images in his paintings,it will be one of the channels to enter his inner world,and also a way for us to have a deeper understanding of his art.In this paper,by giving examples of Balthus’ s specific works,he uses the cat to symbolize himself,or as a metaphor for his true emotions that he does not want to reveal.It integrates self-knowledge,resistance and repression against industrial civilization,or the natural law of "life and death cycle" with the picture animals.Balthus hoped to live in isolation.He pursued the classics,painted the purity and dreams in his heart,and fled from the experimental art that took place in front of him.The relationship between human and animal in his paintings reflected a kind of anti-anthropocentric thought and feeling,which could make human beings shed their arrogance and reflect on themselves in the artistic survival world of seeing the big from the small.