Surrealism… One of most intriguing styles in art and a revolutionary philosophy, it emerged in the early 1920’s Paris and gave birth to many geniuses. The purpose of surrealism was portraying imagination free from rationalism and restrictive conventions, inspired by dreams and psychoanalysis. Surrealists were writing, drawing and painting from their subconscious. Subconscious became their subject of portrayal.
        

          The blank cheque                                                               The false mirror                                                

Rene Magritte is one of most celebrated surrealists of all times. In his art, Magritte aimed at creating stronger images by  juxtaposing different realities, filling them with emotional power and poetics.  Belgian born artist, he represented a typical bourgeois. Magritt lived in Brussels and spent many fruitful years of his artistic life in Paris along with his wife Georgette and their beloved little dog Loulou.  To those familiar with Magritte’s most well known work “The Son of Man.” learning that his favored outfit was a good suit and a bowler would not be a surprise.

                The Son of Man                                               Homesickness                                     

Renowned for puzzling and thought-provoking images, his paintings caused the viewer to see familiar objects and images in a new way. He redefined  conventional perception of reality by combining it with illusion. His images were realistically impossible,  puzzling and provoking a thought.  As if Magritte anticipated the viewer of his art work to ask a question, to which he would not suggest an answer.
  
              Delusions of Grandeur                                  Homage to Mack Sennet

A master of obvious and obscure, Magritte played with everyday objects, human habits and emotions, questioning typical perception of things, objects, life itself. His beautiful paintings of women were undeniably erotic, mysterious, and unknowable. For Magritte, the mystery of a woman was beyond the power of art’s representation and human comprehension. “ Le Blanc Seeing”, “Portrait de Mme. Nellens”, “Favourable Omens” and many others – these art works still take the admirers’ breaths away, drawing them into the depth and search for the hidden meaning.   
  

                      Discovery                                                        Donna

Magritte’s surreal style inspired generations. His art had a tremendous impact on culture in the realm of film, literature and philosophy. His art revolutionized human experience, freed it from accepted norms.  Capable of transferring ordinary to fantastic and mind boggling,  decades later his works continue to amaze,  prompt an imagination and admiration of the uniqueness and eternity of Magritte’s art.

"Every single thing which we sec conceals something else; we would dearly love to see what that which we can see is hiding from us..." Rene Magritte