COCAINE BLUES

Cocaine Blues
2022
Oil on canvas
100 x 87 cm

This late 19th-century oil painting was originally created by Sébastien Norblin, also known as Sobeck. A Pole himself, he highlighted the Polish diaspora in Paris, where he established his home. Cocaine Blues shows a seated man, his hand resting delicately on the back of the seat, revealing the back of his hand as it cascades casually down. The strikingly handsome man is dressed in a rare elegance, with pale skin and slightly rosy cheeks. His deep black hair blends harmoniously with his dark clothes, creating an intense visual composition of sobriety and contrast.

Blase's diversion in 2022 adds another layer of complexity to this already intriguing piece. After meticulous restoration, the artist affixed two tattoos to the hand of the aristocrat: a traditional American-style rose on the back of the hand, and the word 'H A T E' inscribed on the knuckles. Although quite anachronistic in the way they’re shown, these tattoos fit in perfectly with the overall aesthetic of the work. Tattoos were already in vogue at the time, even at the highest levels of society, as evidenced by the Asian dragon tattooed on the forearm of Tsar Nicholas II at the beginning of the 20th century. This bold transformation enriches our perception of the personality of the man depicted, freeing him from the stereotypical image often conveyed by academic painters of the time. This tattooed addition lends the man an aura of mystery and originality, arousing our curiosity as to his identity and motivations, particularly his choice to combine flowers and hatred.

It should also be noted that the process of hijacking is not limited to the work itself. The need to change the original frame, due to its deterioration, led to a significant change. The new frame, richly decorated with gold floral motifs, maintains a subtle dialogue with the motif of the tattooed rose, reinforcing the visual and conceptual coherence of the hijacked work.