Charles II of Spain is one of Jose Lerma’s favorite subjects. He has described Charles II as a tragic-comic figure whose power and authority were consistently undermined by a poor public image due to his ill health and lack of confidence. Lerma’s depictions of Charles II are simplified and childlike, lacking any correlation to the subject’s true features. Rather than exalting the sitter, they exalt the paint. Lerma uses giant, bold brush strokes. He layers the paint (or in this case pigmented silicone caulk) thickly, creating the impression that this picture is more about the medium than the subject matter, and that in fact it could only have been made with this medium. The scale of the brushstrokes is also intended make the picture relatable to children, while making adults feel smaller and more childlike in its presence. The seriousness of the historical legacy to which Charles II is attached becomes almost absurd when his countenance is portrayed in such a fanciful, playful way. Such juxtaposition of darkness and humor is an essential part of Lerma’s work.