Schuiten, Francois - The Theory of the Grain of Sand, pages 83 and 84 (2008)

13 Comments - 406 Views - 6 Likes

Click Image to View Full Size

Next Item:
Schuiten, Francois - Obscure Cities Exposition Poster (1990)

Artwork Details

Title:	Schuiten, Francois - The Theory of the Grain of Sand, pages 83 and 84 (2008)
Artist:	Francois Schuiten (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	406
Likes on CAF:	6 7
Comments:	13
Added to Site:	12/23/2023
Comic Art Archive:

Description

A stunning two-page sequence from Francois Scuiten & Benoit Peeters, The Theory of the Grain of Sand.

John Pistelli's review of the 2016 edition summarizes the book nicely:

"The Theory of the Grain of Sand tells the story of Br�sel, a fantastical city much like Brussels, that undergoes an escalating series of strange events: rocks, each weighing exactly the same, begin appearing in an old man�s apartment; a single mother�s apartment is slowly filling with sand; a chef weighs less and less each day until he levitates into the air.

These odd happenings coincide with the appearance in the city of a warrior from the Bugti, a desert people, who attempts to sell a religious artifact captured from the chief of his tribe�s rivals, the Moktar. His prospective buyer is a woman who lives in the Horta House, an Art Nouveau marvel, and she too is drawn, this time by guilt rather than happenstance, into the mysterious plot.

Mary von Rathen, apparently a recurring character in the series, comes to the city to investigate. With the help of the afflicted citizens (and the man who runs the Gallery of Distant Worlds), she helps to solve the mystery while warning that not everything can be explained. The conclusion involves a journey out of Br�sel and into the desert, there to replace the Moktars� plundered artifact and end the chaos."

In these two pages, two Bugti nationals bring the recurring characters from Obscure Cities, Constant Abeels and Mary Von Rathen, to Boulachistan (their country in a curious region linked to Br�sel) via train.

The book�s title reflects the story's key point - one grain of sand, one tiny detail, added or subtracted, is enough to change everything.

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	Chris K. Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	August 2008
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Chris's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

Contact the Owner

Use can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner,
but, you must be logged in to use this feature.

Comments on this Artwork

You must be logged in to make comments.

David Blumer
Member Since 2018

1 - Posted on 12/23/2023

Spectacular piece!! The Obscure Cities series is breathtaking comics. Thanks for sharing!

Suat Tong Ng
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 12/23/2023

Lovely. I don't expect this will be the last one ....

Chris K.
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 12/24/2023

Suat Tong Ng wrote:

Lovely. I don't expect this will be the last one ....

When I first purchased the piece, I expected to be content. Then...it arrived. The scale, detail, and delicacy of the piece were intoxicating...so you're probably right :)

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 12/24/2023

No detail left to chance. The pages mirror each other as if to say they are in perfect balance unless a grain of sand should cause the scale to tip over everything.

artless artmore
Member Since 2013

1 - Posted on 12/24/2023

That's a great page!

Chris C
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 12/24/2023

I had not heard of this story before but, thanks to your post and description I can see that I'm missing out. These are gorgeous. The texture and inks are so deep and developed.

Chris K.
Member Since 2008

2 - Posted on 12/24/2023

Chris C wrote:

I had not heard of this story before but, thanks to your post and description I can see that I'm missing out. �These are gorgeous. The texture and inks are so deep and developed.�

This one will be coming with me at our next art show n' tell, for sure. It's a beauty...but I'll let you be the judge!

Nick - Barry - Matt - Hal - Namor
Member Since 2015

1 - Posted on 12/24/2023

nice!

Sean Clarke
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 12/25/2023

Really extraordinary! I'll have to seek this out!

Joao Antunes
Member Since 2007

1 - Posted on 12/25/2023

I love this page, super congrats on another super acquisition to your super collection!

Ron S
Member Since 2007

1 - Posted on 12/25/2023

The linework and inking are sublime.

GAB R
Member Since 2007

1 - Posted on 12/26/2023

A page from "The obscure cities" is always a desirable piece for every collection...yours is much more than a remarcable example...always a pleasure to see Schuiten trains

Rogelio Arias
Member Since 2012

1 - Posted on 5/11/2025

Love this one. What an amazing page of the Theorie perfectly reflecting the ambiance and the story with all the main caracters with an anticipation of what Schuiten will be producing in La douce in the first panel. So typical of his art. An amazing collection.

All
	Abraham Martinez 9/5/2025 9:33:00 PM
	Chris Johnson 9/5/2025 9:08:00 PM
	Dave Kopecki 9/5/2025 9:07:00 PM
	Alan E 9/5/2025 8:55:00 PM
	Paul P Spiderversity 9/5/2025 8:26:00 PM
View All