Cycle of Love 2021

Michael Cheval made this painting, ‘Cycle of Love,’ in the twenty-first century. Its dreamlike imagery reflects the recent revival of interest in surrealism, but with updated cultural references. Consider the figure of the dancing woman, posed on a clock face and surrounded by doves. Her ballet shoes are paired, oddly, with one red, pointed shoe. This contrast, and the overall title, suggests how love is perceived within a cultural framework. The clock suggests the familiar idea that love is on a timeline, while the footwear suggests a distinction between the sacred and profane. The woman's costume may reference high fashion or historical dress, reflecting how social institutions such as the media or the fine arts shape our ideas about romance. As art historians, we can look at the reemergence of surrealism and the changing attitudes toward love in the 21st century to better understand the social context of this painting.