Balthus was a renowned French-Polish painter known for his controversial and provocative figurative artworks. Born as Balthasar Klossowski in Paris in 1908, he started painting at a young age and quickly gained recognition for his unique style featuring unsettling and erotically charged subjects. Throughout his career, Balthus maintained a reclusive lifestyle and was often criticized for the perceived taboo nature of his artworks. Despite the controversies, his paintings continue to captivate audiences with their mysterious and symbolic imagery.