Modern 1923

René Magritte painted this mysterious artwork, ‘Modern’ with oil on canvas. The palette is muted and geometric, with an earthy kind of feel and, yet, the central female figure’s head is egg-yolk yellow and luminous, it’s pretty striking. When you look at the surface of the paint, you can see these incredible textures and ridges, which give the piece a tangible, tactile quality. The way the light interacts with the paint really makes it feel alive. Take a close look at the word ‘OK’ in the background. It looms large, but it is also partially obscured, like a hidden message or a secret code, it’s totally intriguing. This little detail gets at the heart of Magritte’s art, which plays with symbolism and subverts our expectations. In that way, it reminds me of Giorgio de Chirico, who also sought to create this dreamlike space in painting, with disjointed images and hidden meanings.