Le Enchanter 1938

This is Felix Labisse's *Le Enchanter*, but when it was painted and with what, I can't say for sure. But looking at it, I get the sense of art-making as a process of uncovering something hidden, like digging in the dirt and finding a shiny stone. There’s something eerie about the texture, a smooth, almost uncanny finish that flattens the figures, and the restricted palette adds to the dream-like quality. Notice how the artist renders the hand holding the bird, with its elongated fingers and the way it intersects with the bird’s delicate body. It’s as if the hand is both protecting and slightly obscuring the bird. The gesture has a symbolic weight to it, a sense of offering or maybe even a slight unease. I'm reminded a little of de Chirico's enigmatic figures, though Labisse brings his own surreal touch. I like to think of art as a conversation across time and space, where artists borrow, steal, and transform ideas into something new. Ultimately, this piece embraces the ambiguity and multiple interpretations of the world.