Silence 2019

Michael Cheval made this painting, called Silence, using oil paint. The colors are bright and playful, but the woman’s expression is calm, almost stern. It’s like he’s using the smooth, controlled brushstrokes to build a bridge between a dream world and a formal portrait. I love how he creates the texture. The orange dots in the background pop out. And then you've got this wild collar, which is super Renaissance, with perfect little pleats and curves. The telephone receiver is shiny and smooth. It's hard to tell if he uses a lot of layers to get that effect, or if he mixes the color perfectly on the palette. It makes me think about Magritte or de Chirico, how they used familiar images in weird ways. This isn't just a picture; it's a puzzle. It's an invitation to imagine. It doesn't give you all the answers, but it wants you to ask questions.