Portrait of Gala with Two Lamb Chops in Equilibrium upon Her Shoulder

A woman's profile, starkly outlined against a muted background, dominates this small, unusual portrait. Two raw lamb chops, precariously balanced on her right shoulder, introduce a jarring, surreal element. The woman is Gala, the artist's wife and muse, depicted with a quiet intensity that contrasts sharply with the absurdity of her meaty adornment. This work, rendered in India ink on a painted olive-wood block, showcases a meticulous draftsmanship on an unconventional surface. The choice of material and the miniature scale (only 6.8 by 8.7 centimeters) invite a close, intimate viewing, drawing attention to the delicate lines and the strange juxtaposition of the organic and the mundane. It captures a moment of unsettling equilibrium, both literally with the chops, and metaphorically in its blend of classical portraiture with a distinctly surrealist sensibility.