Roll Over Beethoven 2014

Michael Cheval created "Roll Over Beethoven" with oil, resulting in a smooth surface that almost feels like glass. Can you imagine Cheval layering those oils, each stroke a delicate dance between precision and chance? I bet he’s thinking a lot about space here - the way the checkered ground swirls up into the background, like a stage set designed by Escher. It’s not just a backdrop; it's a character, influencing the mood, setting the stage for this solitary musician balancing atop an egg. The color palette is muted, mostly browns, punctuated by the jester’s turquoise blue - a real contrast that draws your eye. And that egg! I can't help but think of the surrealists, Magritte and Dali, where objects defy gravity and expectations. Maybe Cheval is reminding us that art, like life, is about balance, about finding harmony in the absurd.