Femme au chapeau 2020

Carlos Sablòn made this painting of a woman with a hat in 2020, and the way he handles oil paint is like watching thoughts form. The way the hat overshadows the face, it reminds me of when you start painting something, and it takes on a life of its own. Looking closer, the textures are incredible, swirling like cream in coffee. The warm browns and creams contrast with the stark black background, and it’s interesting how the hat and dress seem to blend together, like one continuous flow of form. I see this little area, right at the top of the hat, where the paint pulls back, almost like a bird in flight, it mirrors the flower motif on the dress. It gives the piece a sense of movement, as if these forms are constantly shifting and evolving. It reminds me of some of Magritte’s surreal portraits, but Sablòn brings a more personal, almost dreamlike quality to it. It’s like he’s not just painting what he sees, but what he feels.