Belgian artist René Magritte, 1898-1967, is one of the most popular artists of the Surrealist movement. He is famous for his compositions in which he depicts familiar figures, objects, locations and circumstances in a surreal, puzzling and often humorous way. Unlike other Surrealists, Magritte wasn't obsessed with Freud, the subconscious or the interpretation of dreams. He preferred to challenge the viewer and provoke questions with his meticulously executed paintings that deceive our eyes and toy with everyday reality. He rarely explained his work however. Magritte always preferred to leave it up to the viewers to decide what the work was about. In this painting a male figure is sleeping in a wooden construction. If it wasn't open on one side you would think it was a casket. The rectangular construction rests on several cabinet legs and is situated in a desert landscape. If this wasn't surreal enough, a massive rock can be seen closer to the horizon. The stone and wooden objects are perfectly aligned above each other in the composition. Despite the rock being further away in the distance, it seems to float above the sleeping man.

Magritte
The Cape of Storms,
1964
oil on canvas
Royal Museum of Fine Arts
Antwerp.

#renemagritte #thecapeofstorms #painting #oil #canvas #dated1964 #royalmuseumoffinearts #antwerp #modernart #surrealism #surrealistart #surrealistpainting