Les belles réalités 

René Magritte made this intriguing painting, Les belles réalités, using oil on canvas, a classic fine art medium. While the subject matter – an apple and a table – seems straightforward, it’s the unexpected juxtaposition that grabs our attention. Magritte’s technique involves layering paint to create smooth surfaces and precise forms. The apple, meticulously rendered with subtle gradations of green and red, contrasts sharply with the stark white tablecloth. The table legs, appearing sturdy yet absurdly positioned, add to the dreamlike quality. Magritte deliberately defied conventional artistic norms. His work challenges us to question the relationship between objects and their representations, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. Rather than celebrating craft, this is a deliberate act of challenging the status quo by subverting the notion of function and form. By bringing together disparate elements in such a surreal way, he provokes a deeper contemplation of the world around us, prompting us to see the familiar in a new, unsettling light.