La vie heureuse 1944

René Magritte made this painting, La vie heureuse, with oil on canvas; he loved playing with our perceptions of reality. Look at how he's built up this image, layer by layer, almost like a slow, gentle process. The paint isn't screaming for attention, but it's there, doing its job. I find the texture soothing, like a visual balm, and notice how the colors support one another. The greens and browns of the earth and tree, contrast with the pinkish peach color of the figure/fruit. The figure itself is nestled like a foetus within the fruit, this feels like a surreal meditation on creation and growth. The surface is smooth, with each element defined by clear outlines. Magritte's work often reminds me of de Chirico, both exploring dreamlike imagery, but in a very different way. I find myself thinking about the endless conversations artists have with one another, across time and space. Ultimately, this painting leaves me with more questions than answers, and that's what makes it so intriguing.