A friend of order 1964

René Magritte painted this strange and wonderful scene, A friend of order, without any clear date, but, to me, it’s eternally modern. The man is a silhouette of cool blues, that reminds me of Yves Klein.   And the way Magritte layers that serene landscape inside the man’s form, it's like he's wearing a memory or a dream. The paint is smooth, almost like glass, especially in the man's shape, but then you notice the brushstrokes in the darker parts, giving it this subtle texture, which I love. The moon in the eye socket is such a simple yet profound idea, like the man is gazing inward and outward at the same time. You can see some similar tricks and plays with perspective in de Chirico's work, but Magritte’s sense of humour sets him apart. It’s a painting that welcomes questions rather than giving answers, and I think that’s the most exciting kind of art.