Glamorous History of Wars 2015

Michael Cheval painted "Glamorous History of Wars" sometime after his birth in 1966, probably with oils. It's a wild mix of control and absurdity, isn't it? Look at the way the sunset sky has been rendered using tiny brushstrokes, contrasting with the smooth, almost airbrushed finish of the figure. Up close you can really see how Cheval has captured the light, making the satin gown look luminous. The woman has a slightly vacant expression, which makes me wonder if she's just a puppet in this whole spectacle, or perhaps oblivious to the army about to march. That dark line traversing the image is disturbing, as it reminds me of a tightrope. The work is a reminder of surrealism, especially Magritte, who also played with scale and metaphor. There's something about the way Cheval has juxtaposed the realistic rendering with the surreal elements that creates a real sense of unease.