116. Nymphs [1976]

1932, Dobriceni, Olt - 2008, Bucureşti

Estimate

EUR 7.000 - 12.000

Session

Thu, 18 June 2026 19:00

Often resorting to conveying a pervasive sentiment in his works, Sabin Bălașa created a fairy-tale myth, inspired by his homeland but also by human aspiration, which transcends the topos. Always returning to the themes that established him in domestic art, Sabin Bălașa is a storyteller with romantic reminiscences, located at the antipode between dream and reality, ephemeral and eternal. Also known as the painter of the infinite blue, Sabin Bălașa always relied on emotion, outlining a vast oeuvre, which aims to explore the thrill beyond the everyday. The painter created renowned cycles such as the "Exodus to light", "Genesis" series or the cycle dedicated to the muses, often present in the artist's works. Thus, in the 70s-80s, Sabin Bălașa becomes the painter of metaphors, intuiting man's predilection for submission to fate. His art generously reveals itself to the viewer, but without losing its imposing status. Exploring the diegesis of the sky alongside the muses, fantasy animals or transparent bodies approaching light, Sabin Bălașa invites us to be included in a narrative that goes beyond the canvas. This work, titled "Muses" and signed by Sabin Bălașa, is part of the series dedicated to the muses. The muses are inspired by feminine figures. With bodies bare and full, the depictions with feminine features emanate a holy nudity, reminiscent of the sacredness of temples. In this work, the muses have bloody, sun-burnt hair, and their bodies emanate a warmth with a divine flavor. The bodies of the muses seem to float on the waves of the ocean. We can liken the water to amniotic fluid that plays a protective role for the muses of the earth. The chosen colors are vibrant, accentuating the features of the faces. The tumult of the ocean is signaled with tones and undertones of blue, which help to outline a harmonious and welcoming frame, serving both the celestial and the human. The fantastic world, of which these muses are part, is a disruption of the known order, becoming, at the same time, a release towards the cosmos and infinity.

References

DEAC, Mircea, "Sabin Bălașa", Meridiane Publishing House, Bucharest, 1984.

Dimensions

width 100 cm, height 73 cm

Description

oil on canvas, signed and dated bottom right, in red, "Sabin Bălașa, 1976"

Dating

1976

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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