Answering myself
The T and the R are at north south.
ROTA TARO TORA ORAT
Yes. It is a kind of word-play.
L'étain though. Perhaps Tintin could help us...
ORAT - from which we derive "orator" (though in this case, it refers to one who is neither the "artist" nor reader)
RATO - We all need a rock, sometimes.
ATOR - Links to RATO
TORA - (word play within word play...)
And of course:
ROTA - from which we derive the English word, rotate. (wheel)
TARO - (which the artist was certainly aware of)
"I want to ride my bicycle,
I want to ride it where I like"
We all would, if only we could.