[I spoil the main points of this story.]
This is a strange fantasy tale about a man named Claude who doesn't really believe in anything. This is a major and important aspect of his personality. It is all the more relevant when he finds a painting at a museum that he becomes obsessed with. It has a woman on it who may or may not be crying. After visiting the painting a few times, there is a puddle at the base which might be the woman's tears.
There is actually some faith that has to go into believing such a thing, and for some reason Claude has that faith. He apparently has so much faith that is he able to eventually go inside the painting and actually meet this woman in person. The author doesn't explain exactly how this happens, but it is made clear that he is actually in the painting and time is still passing normally within the museum. Claude also has to leave by 6PM when the museum closes.
What's crazy about this painting-world is that there is a sort of war going on there which has been ongoing for ages. It is the supposed reason why the woman was crying. Claud, wanting to help the woman out, tries to intervein in this war and finds he has near supernatural powers within the painting. For this reason, he decides to help in the war efforts... as long as he leaves every day by 6PM.
Despite being a man who believes in nothing, he certainly did believe in the world inside the paining, the woman, and this war. With the great powers he has, he is actually able to turn the tide of the battle and ultimately achieve victory. This was all well-told, by the way. The descriptions of the battle was really exciting, and I enjoyed reading it.
On the final day, Claude is so eager to get back into the painting that he breaks into the museum a little early. While sneaking into the room, he sees a wet mop leaning against the painting. The wet part of the mop was where the tears used to be. Was it all in his imagination? Did he create the whole thing because he had been convinced the water under the painting had been from the woman? Doubt suddenly fills his mind, and it is like the spell is broken. He leaves and perhaps never comes back.
Now, the author does something interesting here. He points out that the custodian who left the mop there was on his first day, and the curator actually fusses at him for doing that. This highly suggests that the tears may have actually been real, but because the man doubted himself, his faith dissolved away and he lost the ability to go back into the painting. Fascinating.
I recommend the story. It was a fascinating journey and full of exciting action along the way.
This blog was written on June 4, 2025.
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