Le Rendez-Vous Secret de Dante 1985

Jules Perahim made this painting, "Le Rendez-Vous Secret de Dante," using oil paint, and I love how he’s used colour to create a feeling of mystery. The surface looks pretty smooth, but when you look closely at the lower left, it's like the ground is made of chocolate, thick and gloppy. The way he's built up the paint there, it feels almost sculptural. It contrasts with the flat, almost dreamy quality of the sky and the hills in the background. The trees are like little soldiers, standing in formation, casting long, dramatic shadows. And there, in the distance, are two tiny figures having a secret rendezvous, like in a dream. It reminds me of de Chirico, who also created strange, unsettling landscapes. This feels like a stage set, a backdrop for some untold drama. And that's what makes it so compelling. It leaves you with more questions than answers, a delicious ambiguity.