Free Essay About Rene Magritte: Everyday Objects And Imagination

I went to the Art Institute of Chicago and saw the exhibit Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary, 1926-1938. I chose to read the introduction card first and afterwards felt like I knew more about the background of this exhibit and of the artist Rene Magritte. This exhibit shows the Belgian artist Magritte’s works of the 20th century which I feel are extraordinary and unforgettable images. The museum chose to focus on the artist’s most profoundly inventive and experimental years. When I first walked into the exhibit I felt like there could be some blues music playing in the background as the visitors walk into the room. In my mind I thought maybe because the style of the art work was vintage and naughty and were made during 1926-1938, that the music would evoke more of that time period and Magritte’s emotional range and be more affective and emotive.
I saw many paintings differently and felt like I was walking through someone’s dream. I like the way they displayed some huge clouds on the ceiling at the entrance of the Modern Wing that placed the visitors in his world quickly at the beginning. Magritte did what he said, “Everyday objects shriek aloud.” He combined the objects we see almost daily and made the visual effect strong. He put something into his works which we may ignore in our everyday lives. The combination may look weird at first glance but after looking at it for a longer period of time, you will garner a realization of what he is trying to portray and enjoy the emotions or message he is trying to convey; perhaps come up with your own interpretation.
I remember a painting where there were two men’s backs in black suits, one was taller than the other and they held the same position and stance. The visitors cannot see their faces so the artist leaves us to our own imagination we are left with our own thoughts as to what is happening towards the front of them. This placement has us wondering what they are doing or did, what they saw, or what expressions are on their faces. There was also the piece of the train coming out of the fireplace, “Time Transfixed” is what it was called, which seemed like an awkward piece at first but the connection between the clock on the mantle and the train seemingly halfway arriving (or departing) is a good connection to surrealism. I think this is also an interesting way to make a connection between the artist and the visitors. It is Magritte’s use of surrealism and displacement that sparks the curiosity of visitors and is thought provoking as well.
I think back to the moment when I first laid my eyes on the first piece of the exhibit. I guess that’s the exciting part of visiting an art exhibit, your first reaction will vary—sometimes you will be surprised, maybe you will be confused, or maybe you will be disappointed—art is a very affective medium and Magritte’s pieces didn’t disappoint. It was a fun experience to see this exhibit. Magritte’s works are a little odd and displace and misname certain body parts but that’s what makes his works interesting—especially the attempt to make the ordinary not so ordinary. After viewing his pieces, I’ve become a fan of the artist Rene Magritte.