Balthus and Lolita

Here's a surprising coincidence. A few days ago I previewed the Barbican's forthcoming exhibition on censorship in art, including its screening of Lolita uncut (CLICK). Yesterday, Cologne's Museum Ludwig opened an exhibition of paintings by French artist Balthus, whose portrayals of young girls as seductive sirens offended the moral brigade. His most infamous painting The Guitar Lesson (1934), depicting a woman with bared breast arousing a semi-naked young girl, caused outrage. This is Germany's first ever solo exhibition of his work, with about 70 paintings and drawings from the period 1932 to 1960. Balthus - real name Balthasar Klossowski - died in 2001. Although his art may be gaining acceptance, he'd probably be on the Sex Offenders Register if he painted such pictures in Britain today. And young Thérèse, who features in a number of his paintings, would have been traumatized by social workers trying to make her confess to being a victim of abuse!