The Murderous Sky (Le ciel meurtrier) 1927

René Magritte made this work, in no specific year, with ink, gouache, and paper on paper. Magritte's approach here is so interesting; he's not just painting a picture, he's almost building it, piece by piece, with different materials. The inky washes create this kind of moody, atmospheric background, but then he cuts out these shapes of doves from what looks like sheet music. These musical doves, pasted over the dark, blurry ink, are such a strange contrast. Like, is he trying to suggest that music is freedom? Or is it something more ominous, like the last song before everything goes dark? The way the gouache is applied gives the impression the background could be a stormy sky, reflecting the overall eerie atmosphere. The title adds to the intrigue as well. It’s fascinating how Magritte plays with these materials to create such a sense of unease. It makes you think about all the things we take for granted, like the sky or music. It reminds me a little of Kurt Schwitters, how he used collage to disrupt our expectations. Art’s not about answers, is it? It’s about asking the right questions.