Rene Magritte Questions

1.     What is surrealism?
      
Surrealist artists developed their ideas from the strange things that happen in dreams. They juxtapose unrelated objects, placing them side by side, which makes them seem both real and surreal.

2.     What motif did Magritte use in many of his works? Why was this significant?

He used the motif of a man wearing a bowler hat to signify the time period, and how almost all businessmen like himself wore that bowler hat. Some think he used it as a symbol for himself. 

3.     In his work Golconda, why is it important that Magritte varied the image of the man in the bowler hat?  How does it add depth to the work?

The variation made the painting more dynamic and complex, and makes the viewer look into the piece more. It makes it less boring by giving the piece more perspective.

4.     Why did surreal artists choose to create strange worlds with their art?

They argue that, since we already know what the world looks like, why represent it literally on canvas? If our dreaming minds can create strange worlds, perhaps artists should try to do the same in waking life. For the record, I think this is brilliant, and I think this type of art is that type that holds just as much or more truth than a work of art that shows just what the world looks like. It is story truth vs. happening truth.

5.     Explain how the techniques of juxtaposition, altered scale, and language help Magritte explore Surrealism. 

They help him pull viewers into his compositions by using rich imagery, but doesn't provide all the answers, and in this way, the viewer becomes a part of the work. Every viewer's experience in seeing it changes the meaning of each painting.

6.     What would be a few reasons why Magritte would cover the faces of his subjects?

One theory says that it is because when his mother drowned herself, she was reportedly lifted out of the river with her clothes over her face. Another reason that I could think of would be to represent humanity in general. To represent humans without specific identity. Or, he might hide their faces because he wants to show how people all want to know what it hidden. I think he might hide their faces and make people wonder why their faces are hidden just to show that humanity is always worried with that they can't see rather than with what they can.

7.     Why did Magritte strive for realism & precision in his paintings?

He believed that realism allowed for the viewer to focus on the subjects of the work and not the techniques used to paint it. It also makes the scenes in his paintings seem all the more surreal.

8.     Google more of Magritte’s work and include 2 images that interest you.

o   Explain the technique(s) used to enhance the work

o   Hint – review the words in bold from the reading

Magritte uses juxtaposition of the canvas and the actual window to show how man wants to assume and fill in what he can't see. He once again hides a part of the window with the canvas.

Here Magritte again uses the apple motif as well as the curtain and blue sky with fluffy clouds motif. He also uses juxtaposition making a section of sky look like a curtain, and repetition of the curtain shape. In addition, he gives the painting a background, foreground, and middle-ground showing scale.