Surrealist Artist René Magritte (1898-1967)

I have been talking with some of my students about surrealism lately. As an artistic style, it ranges from the quirky and peculiar to the outright ghoulish and horrifying. The original idea of surrealism was that it supposedly depicted what dreams look like.

René Magritte is one of my favorite original surrealists. He was born in Belgium and was known for his thought-provoking and enigmatic works. He juxtaposed ordinary objects in unexpected ways and challenged perceptions of reality and representation. Iconic works like The Son of Man (depicting a man in a bowler hat with his face obscured by an apple) explore themes of identity, illusion, and meaning. His precise, illustrative style and playful manipulation of context created visual puzzles that engage viewers intellectually and emotionally.​

If you ever hit a plateau with you current painting style, consider painting a whimsical surrealist painting for a change of pace.