Le Sommeil, 1970

Surrealist painter Paul Delvaux was born in Belgium in 1897. His love for art began as a child after he read classic works like Homer. These stories inspired Delvaux to create sketches depicting mythological scenes. Delvaux was accepted into and studied at the Belgian Royal Academy of Arts in Brussels. Fearing a career as an artist would not be a suitable profession for their son, Delvaux's parents encouraged him to study architecture. Delvaux, however, defied their wishes, enrolled in several art classes and began to hone his creative skills. Early in Delvaux's career, he painted naturalistic landscapes, which sometimes also included nude people. However, as time progressed, his work took on a much more sensual overtone and would often feature naked women in seemingly trance-like states wandering through establishments like train stations and buildings. Some of Delvaux's most famous paintings include 'The Hands," completed in 1941, 'Venus Asleep,' completed in 1944 and 'The Great Sirens,' completed in 1947. Delvaux was heavily influenced by painters Rene Margritte, Giorgio de Chirico, Constant Permeke and Gustave de Smet. Though not considered as famous as Surrealist painters like Salvador Dali, Delvaux is thought of as a key contributor to the modern art movement of the mid-twentieth century. Paul Delvaux died in 1994 at age 96. A museum celebrating his work and legacy is located in Sint-Idesbald, Belgium. (Artist website)