“Self-Portrait of Michael Sweerts Plus a Prehistoric Horse Head”
27.5 x 19.5 in, Acrylic on PVC, 2016
In this striking composition, “Self-Portrait of Michael Sweerts Plus a Prehistoric Horse Head,” the artist skillfully fuses the artistic past with surrealist fantasy. Drawing on the style of painter Michael Sweerts’ baroque self-portrait, the work introduces an intriguing visual disruption: in place of a human face, we see the head of a prehistoric horse, strangely placid and melancholic. This unexpected intersection of human and animal form raises questions about identity and metamorphosis.
The dramatic lighting, typical of 17th-century paintings, accentuates the folds of the black coat and the imposing shadow of the broad hat. Yet this gravity is subverted by the anomaly of the horse's head, with its blueish texture reminiscent of fossilized stone. The inclusion of this prehistoric creature in a classical artistic context establishes a surreal connection between the immortality of art and the eternity of nature.
In the figure's hand, a human skull is held reverently, an ever-present symbol of human vanity and mortality. This detail evokes memento mori, those visual reminders of the fragility of life, but here it is accentuated by the stark contrast with the permanence of the prehistoric world represented by the horse's head. The viewer is invited to contemplate the paradox of life and death, man and beast, past and present.
The stormy sky in the background and the raging sea add a dramatic and chaotic touch to the whole, amplifying the feeling of confusion and mystery. This turbulent landscape seems to reflect the inner turmoil of the character, caught between his humanity and an animal regression.
“Self-Portrait of Michael Sweerts Plus a Prehistoric Horse Head” is a bold exploration of the themes of identity, transformation and temporality. With his unique blend of styles and eras, the artist invites us to reflect deeply on what it means to be human, while leaving a door open to the unknown and the imaginary. A work that defies time and categories, at once familiar and resolutely original.
