Theatre of Ambiguity II 2018

Michael Cheval’s painting, “Theatre of Ambiguity II,” pulls you into a meticulously rendered dreamscape. The way he builds up layers of oil paint reminds me of the old masters, but with a twist of surreal humor. The texture in this piece is so smooth, almost porcelain-like, and it gives the whole scene an air of unreality. Look at the folds of the harlequin’s dress, the way they cascade down like frozen waterfalls. And notice that single, outstretched finger reaching from the curtain—it’s like a visual question mark. The detail in the face feels very different to other areas. There's a lot of soft blending but also some sharp outlines and fine details. This painting is a conversation starter; it doesn't offer easy answers. The longer I look, the more I wonder about its relationship to Magritte, both artists have a similarly playful approach to representation and how painting can make us question our expectations of the world. It's the kind of art that invites you to get lost in thought.