Capricieux 2014

Carlos Sablòn made this painting, Capricieux, using oil paint. The colours are muted and earthy, and it's painted in a very precise style. You can see that he's interested in the way that the paint can create form and texture. I love the way he's given the figure a kind of calm, otherworldly presence. Look at the headdress. It’s this fleshy pink shape, like some strange fruit or maybe even an organ, sitting on top of her head. It is so unexpected and strange but it is painted with such precision that it has real power. The soft pink of the headdress contrasts with the blue sky and the green of the tree, creating a really striking composition. This kind of juxtaposition of classical portraiture and surreal elements makes me think of the work of Frida Kahlo, who often combined traditional Mexican imagery with her own personal symbolism. It's a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, with artists constantly responding to and reinterpreting the work of those who came before them.