Tribute to Postman Cheval

In his piece Tribute to Postman Cheval, the artist portrays the postman in front of his building. Playing with perspective, Gérard Lattier demonstrates a certain degree of precision in his depiction of the three giants and the Egyptian temple. The blue sky is dotted with birds, while a menagerie of other creatures gathers around the postman. Standing in the foreground, he holds his wheelbarrow loaded with two blocks of stone. In front of him is a little girl offering him a flower, who could be his daughter Alice. To his rear, a jolly horse brings a touch of humor to the composition by referencing his last name (since cheval means horse). At his feet, his dog Mignonne seems to make an appearance. Eyes raised to the sky, the builder reads Glory and Honor to Postman Cheval proclaimed by the Renommée, who places a laurel wreath on his cap at the same time. The colors are bright and the strokes are simple. The bird sings, the cat plays the accordion, and the tortoise is a trumpeter. This wonderful scene is brimming with the joy of life and projects us into the immediacy of childhood. Gérard Lattier explains, "I discovered the Ideal Palace when I was 15 or 16 years old, when no one was really talking about it. I was filled with wonder. It's good that Cheval existed. His is a universal language. But it's a shame that Ferdinand always seems to have a sour face, so I painted him with a smile! Respect, tenderness, and kinship."