FWIW, here is a response to Balthus' art by the Countess Setsuko Klossowska de Rola, the second wife of Balthus:
"The world, however, does tend to stand in sweeping judgment. Is she offended by what is said of her husband?
"It's other people's opinion and they have a right to that stupid opinion," she replies, evenly. (If she's upset, it's masked: a personal No Drama.) Was she ever worried? "About what? Paedophilia? If it is not true, then what's wrong? Balthus totally has another vision.""
I think his subject matter is creepy, personally, but we're talking about the art world, not a Benetton ad. At least I am.
The New York Post, in my opinion as a former journalist, is a reactionary scandal rag of the lowest order. The New York Times it ain't.