Solar Eclipse 2016

This striking painting by Michael Cheval evokes the symbolism of a Renaissance drama. Imagine the artist, brush in hand, building up layers of oil paint to create this tableau of lovers. It's all so lush and detailed. I can imagine Cheval thinking about art history while making this. It seems as though he is combining the theatrics of the baroque with the clarity of renaissance portraiture. There’s the red cloak of the female figure, a bold swathe of color that draws your eye and makes you think about status, and how love is like a stage. The candle, with its fragile flame, reminds us of the ephemeral nature of life. Is it hope? Fear? Longing? The gesture of the male figure, draping the cloak around the woman, communicates both possession and protection. It reminds me of how artists use their own 'cloak' of knowledge to inspire one another. It’s a constant exchange across time, where painters can find ways to express something new.