Nu 1925

René Magritte made this painting, 'Nu' in 1925, with oil on canvas. The color palette is subdued, almost like a faded memory, with a strong emphasis on geometric forms. Look at the surface of the painting, so smooth it’s almost as if it was mechanically produced, devoid of expressive brushwork. Yet, this smoothness isn't cold or impersonal, it’s like a stage set for a dream. Magritte had been working as a designer in a wallpaper factory a few years before, and you can see the influence here. The woman is framed by shapes and planes, she is not just a figure but a puzzle. I am reminded of Balthus, and his enigmatic portraits of young girls. But while Balthus often explores themes of eroticism and voyeurism, Magritte's approach is more detached, more conceptual. This painting is an invitation to question our assumptions about representation and reality.