L'appel du voyageur 1973

Theo Gerber's painting, L'appel du voyageur, probably made in the 70s, looks like it’s inviting us to somewhere far away. The way he's layered the paint, it's not about hiding the process, but really letting it be part of the story. The texture here is pretty great – see how the paint kind of clumps together in the rocks, but then smooths out into these almost dreamy surfaces for the sea and sky? It gives the whole thing a sense of depth and makes you want to reach out and touch it. And that little portal with the snail, or whatever it is, sitting right in the middle? It’s like a tiny world within a world, a concentrated version of the entire painting, but also a mirror, asking us, the viewers, to reflect on how we see the world. This feels like something Yves Tanguy might have cooked up, all strange shapes and surreal vibes. But Gerber’s got his own thing going on, a quiet, playful kind of poetry.