Queen of Spades 2019

Editor: Here we have Michael Cheval’s "Queen of Spades," an oil painting from 2019. There's something so compelling about the contrast between the realistically rendered figure and the almost dreamlike, surreal elements like the flat black circle behind her head and the playing card she's holding. How do you interpret this work, considering its formal qualities? Curator: Well, let's consider the juxtaposition of textures and forms. The richly textured gold background contrasts sharply with the smooth skin of the subject and the crisp lines of her attire. Observe how Cheval utilizes geometric shapes - the stark circle, the rigid lines of her jacket, versus the softer, flowing lines of her skirt and scarf. The painting plays with the tension between hard and soft, structured and organic. How does this opposition affect your reading of the "Queen?" Editor: I think it creates a sense of controlled chaos. Everything is meticulously rendered, yet the composition feels unsettling. The heavy use of complementary colours, like the blues and golds, adds to that visual tension, doesn't it? Curator: Precisely! Furthermore, notice the symbolic use of the spade motif throughout. The scarf, adorned with spades, leads our eye down to the actual playing card, which appears to be the nine of diamonds. Is there a specific story being implied by the presence and prominence of this suite? Editor: I hadn’t noticed the significance of the nine of diamonds. The overall visual language is quite sophisticated! Curator: Indeed. Cheval's strategic combination of realistic technique with surreal elements pushes us to consider the construction of meaning itself, prompting a deeper engagement with its components, even beyond any narrative context. Editor: I see what you mean. Analyzing the formal elements provides a completely different understanding. Curator: It's like deconstructing a puzzle. Each element contributes to the overall impact and interpretation.