L’OKAPI 1958

René Magritte made this painting, L’OKAPI, with oils, but the date remains a mystery. Looking at it, I’m reminded that art is a process of revealing and concealing at the same time. Magritte's smooth brushwork almost hides his hand, creating a surreal and dreamlike image. The colour palette is muted, and everything looks so crisp, so present. Yet, what exactly are we looking at? It’s the back of a man in a suit, wearing a bowler hat, and a giant white flower blooms from the top of his head. This flower, with its fleshy petals, is so peculiar, so out of place. It adds a layer of absurdity, throwing the whole scene off balance. Magritte seems to be having a conversation with artists like Giorgio de Chirico, who also embraced the bizarre. Like their work, there’s something deeply unsettling about this painting, but also playful. It leaves you wondering, what is real? And what is imagined? Ultimately, this is a reminder that art is always open to interpretation.