The alarmed city

Mediums: oil, canvas.
Location: private collection.

The scene of turmoil and fear, impressing the viewer looking at the canvas, is caused by the history of its creation. The artist created this work under the influence of a real event, the capture of Brussels by the Nazi troops. The plot describes the confusion of ordinary people in a difficult and even threatening situation when each of them acts at their discretion and often without any logic. As usual, P. Delvaux did not depict contemporary events. He placed his heroes in the faceless world of ancient architecture, allowing the viewer to draw analogies himself and find the true essence of the work. The author’s deeply personal attitude is reflected in strange characters, a peculiar illumination of the picture and its intense mood.