Project for a mural, Norine House, Brussels 1931

René Magritte conceived this project for a mural in Brussels with paint. I am compelled by the surface, the simple yet striking way the figures and landscape are rendered. Look how the deep blue flattens the space, yet the simple addition of white cloud shapes hints at depth, while the salmon pink picks out details on the balcony. The paint handling is so direct, almost crude, yet carefully considered. See how the black of the man’s suit bleeds into the blue ground? It's as if Magritte is saying, ‘this is paint!’ reminding us of the artifice involved in image-making. That little white bird, held aloft, makes me think of Picasso, especially his posters and lithographs, and his use of simple forms to convey complex ideas. Of course, Magritte is in conversation with many artists, and with this piece, it's clear that he is not afraid to experiment with simplicity and boldness.