The weather is soft. To the right approaches a man, to the left a woman. They will meet within ten to fifteen seconds. His will glance upwards stealthily. She will look straight ahead, knows that she is being looked at. She will only half enjoy this, but she would not want to miss it. It is a gift she refuses, but it has to be offered to her. –Adapted from K. Schippers‘s opening lines on Balthus in Eb.

Collage by Indian artist Rajan c k.