The Great War 1964

"The Great War" is a 1964 oil painting by Belgian Surrealist artist René Magritte. The painting depicts a man in a bowler hat and suit with an apple covering his face. Magritte's signature style of employing realistic imagery in unsettling ways is evident here, creating a sense of mystery and intrigue. The apple, often associated with temptation and knowledge, becomes a symbol of concealed identity and the limitations of perception. The title, "The Great War", may refer to the human conflict, or the war against understanding. This work is characteristic of Magritte’s later period, characterized by a refined and simplified style.