L’Rat et L’huître 2019

This painting, L’Rat et L’huître, by Carlos Sablòn, seems to have been conjured from a fable, and painted with thin layers of oil or acrylic. The ochres and browns and blues of the landscape create an otherworldly scene, like a dreamscape where anything is possible. There's a curious tension between the detailed rendering of the rat-like figure and the more loosely defined background. Look at how Sablòn handles the oyster: the exterior has a textured, almost industrial feel, contrasting with the smooth, lustrous pearl nestled inside. The rat is drawn like a character from a storybook, complete with a coat and an inquisitive expression. Its gaze meets the oyster, creating a narrative pause. What’s going on? This piece reminds me of the work of Henri Rousseau, who also had a way of painting these dreamlike, surreal scenes with a mix of naivety and sophistication. Like Rousseau, Sablòn invites us into a world where the rules are different, and where imagination reigns supreme.