Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Hello and welcome to Tuesday Poetics. Melissa from Mom With a Blog here, serving up your delicious prompt, drinks, and snacks. Special thanks to Kerfe for being my inspiration for this Magritte prompt.

René Magritte, The Double Secret (1927), oil on canvas

Surrealist painter René Magritte was born in Lesinnes, Belgium in 1898. His father was a textile merchant, and his mother was a milliner, or hat maker. Magritte began drawing lessons around the age of 10.

In February of 1912, when Magritte was thirteen years old, his mother committed suicide by drowning herself. According to the account of a family nurse, Magritte was present when his mother’s body was fished out of the river, her dress covering her face. Though the validity of this account has been disputed, it has been suggested as reason for Magritte obscuring some subjects of his paintings with cloths over their faces.

René Magritte, Discovery (1927), oil on canvas

Magritte’s earliest paintings were impressionist in style. He also experimented with styles like futurism and cubism. It wasn’t until the mid 1920s when he began using a more surrealist style in his work. When he first exhibited his work in Brussels in 1927, his reception was less than welcoming. Following this, he spent several years in Paris, making connections with the likes of Max Ernst and Salvador Dalí.

By the end of his life, Magritte achieved great success. His works have impacted popular culture from album covers to movie plot inspiration, as well as minimalist and conceptual art. The Magritte Museum opened in Brussels in 2009; it houses more than 200 of Magritte’s original works, including drawings, paintings, and sculptures. Most of the work is directly from the collection of Georgette Magritte, the artist’s widow.

René Magritte, Homesickness (1940), oil on canvas

Magritte transformed people and ordinary objects into art that raised questions, provoked uncomfortability, and challenged the way we view the real world. He believed that within what meets the eye, there lies much more. In dreamlike imaginings, he blended the comedic with the horrific, showcasing themes of sea and sky, and altering space and time.

Read more about René Magritte:

René Magritte

René Magritte explained by René Magritte

What is the Artist Trying to Say? Nothing, Magritte Claims

What You Need to Know about René Magritte

René Magritte, Golconda (1953), oil on canvas

For today’s poetic prompt: choose one of René Magritte’s artworks featured in this post, or you may choose an artwork found in one of the articles I’ve included links for. Please be sure to let us know which work you’ve chosen. Write a poem about what you see, and what it hides. Look beyond the obvious. What layers of meaning do you see? How does the image resonate with underlying parts of your story? Show us that.

If you’re new, here is how to join us:

  • Write a poem in response to the prompt.
  • Enter your name and a link directly to the post containing your poem into Mr. Linky. Remember to check the box to accept use/privacy policy.
  • Read other poets’ work as they enter their links into Mr. Linky. Check back as more will be added.
  • Please link back to dVerse from your post.
  • Have a wonderful time!🎉

Mr. Linky will remain open until 3pm EST on Thursday, March 21, 2024.