A striking symbolic work by Sabin Balasa, depicting a solitary figure overlooking a turbulent sea in a dreamlike, golden-hued coastal setting.

Sabin Balasa, a prominent figure in Romanian contemporary art, often explored themes of mythology and the human condition through a distinct, personal visual language. In this work, titled Atlantis, the artist presents a solitary female figure perched upon a rocky outcrop overlooking a vast, turbulent sea. The composition is defined by a stark contrast between the deep, shadowed tones of the foreground and the luminous, golden-yellow highlights that delineate the rock formations and the figure herself.

Balasa employs a technique that emphasises form and silhouette, creating a sense of stillness amidst the motion of the water. The figure, rendered with elongated proportions, gazes out toward a distant, hazy horizon where land meets sky. This choice of subject matter reflects the artist's interest in the legendary lost city, using the myth as a vehicle to explore concepts of isolation, memory, and the passage of time. The application of paint is deliberate, with visible brushwork that contributes to the textured quality of the rocks and the rhythmic movement of the waves below.

Unlike traditional depictions of the sea, the palette here is unconventional, favouring saturated blues and intense yellows that push the image toward a dreamlike state. The light appears to emanate from within the scene rather than from a natural source, a characteristic trait of Balasa's approach to atmospheric perspective. By stripping away unnecessary detail, the artist focuses the viewer's attention on the relationship between the human form and the elemental forces of nature. This print captures the specific tonal qualities of the original oil painting, preserving the balance between the cool, deep blues of the ocean and the warm, golden light that defines the rocky coast.