Le coeur du monde c. 1955

René Magritte created "Le coeur du monde," or "The Heart of the World," at an unknown date, using oil on canvas. Magritte was a Belgian surrealist artist who challenged viewers' perceptions of reality. His work is characterized by the use of ordinary objects in unusual contexts. In this painting, Magritte presents us with a horse whose mane has an almost human quality, crowned with a medieval tower. This imagery evokes themes of power, mythology, and the subconscious, blending the natural with the architectural. The horse, often a symbol of nobility and freedom, carries the weight of the tower, a symbol of human ambition and constraint. Magritte once said, "My painting is visible images which conceal nothing; they evoke mystery." The surreal combination invites contemplation. It urges us to look beyond the surface and question the hidden meanings within the familiar. Consider the interplay between the visible and the invisible, and the known with the unknown. How do these elements affect our understanding of the world?