Le Principe du plaisir 1937

René Magritte's ‘The Pleasure Principle’ is a painting of light and dark, mystery and clarity, probably made with oils. I think about how Magritte built up layers of paint to create such strange luminosity. It's like he painted the ghost in the machine. What's going on behind that glow? Is it madness, genius, or something else? Maybe it’s all three. Look at the solid rock on the table. Such a funny contrast to the glowing head. The rock seems to ask us: What's real? What's solid? Magritte, like many painters, creates a riddle of light and shadow. I find myself searching for meaning, knowing it's just out of reach. It’s this back and forth, this constant questioning, that makes painting so alive.