Above Water Level is a haunting and thought-provoking surrealist oil painting that masterfully blends historical symbolism with psychological depth. The image of a stern-faced, uniformed officer—possibly evoking a bygone imperial or military figure—is fragmented and reassembled through the lens of multiple wine glasses. Each glass distorts, refracts, or amplifies aspects of the subject's face, creating a ghostly collage of repetition and displacement. The use of red, resembling blood, dripping down the insides of the glasses introduces a visceral, unsettling quality.

Tiny black silhouettes of falling figures inside the glasses add a chilling narrative layer, perhaps alluding to war, sacrifice, or personal collapse. The clear juxtaposition of elegance (the pristine glassware and feathered hat) with violence (blood-like streaks and plummeting bodies) generates a compelling tension between decorum and destruction.

The muted background enhances the intensity of the scene, drawing the viewer’s eye inward to confront themes of power, identity, and the cost of control. The artist’s technique—sharp, deliberate lines contrasted with blurred or layered reflections—further underscores the idea of fractured realities and unseen consequences.

Condition reports, additional images and shipping estimates are available on request. Private viewings can be arranged with the gallery.