Glamorous History of Wars 2015

Michael Cheval’s painting, Glamorous History of Wars, gives us a full-length portrait of a woman amid a landscape of war. She’s dressed in a huge gown, and wears a hat…with the Leaning Tower of Pisa on top! I wonder what Cheval was thinking when he made this? Her direct gaze conveys confidence and mystery. I love the touch of absurdity, of this woman with a tower on her head! The fiery palette of reds and oranges creates a dynamic backdrop that evokes a sense of tension and drama. The juxtaposition of the refined elegance of the woman's attire with the stark reality of war creates a sense of dissonance. Her gesture, holding a monocle-type instrument up to one eye, is an act of framing, of looking. The painting invites us to reflect on the complexities of history, the allure and destructiveness of power, and the way societies are built on contradiction. Like many artists, Cheval shows us there is an ongoing conversation across time, inspiring our creativity, and embracing ambiguity to allow multiple interpretations.