Episode 15: Rene Magritte “The Unexpected Answer” 1933 / Giorgio de Chirico “The Song of Love” 1914
Rene Magritte, The Unexpected Answer, 1933. Oil on canvas.
Stephanie and Russell are back with another slice of Art History: they discuss Belgian painter Rene Magritte and Giorgio “Daddy” De Chirico’s influence on Surrealism. De Chirico’s metaphysical works were a first in art history and has since influenced generations of artists, especially the Surrealists. Both he and De Chirico evoke a sense of stimmung, or mood, that is especially unnerving when their paintings are realistically painted but Rene takes it a step further.
While Rene is considered a Surrealist, he was not quite like the others. His compositions raise more questions than answers and were likely inspired by the tragedy and war he experienced early in life. His interest in the macabre and uncanny, taken from Edgar Allen Poe and Lewis Carroll really took off once he left Brussels and headed to Paris, to the heart of Surrealism.
Somewhere between all of the melancholic marble statues, architectural arcades, giant chess pieces and bowler hats, Stephanie and Russell finally discuss the beginnings of Surrealism which include Andre Breton’s military career, Sigmund Freud’s ideas, and Max Ernst’s French translation skills.
Lastly, they confront and discuss that disturbing, lingering sense of uneasiness Rene’s works leaves us and if Rene, at the end of the day, is truly a Surrealist.
Our Art Pantry of the week are Automatic, Surrealist Techniques: Frottage, grattage, eclaboussure, fumage, and decalcomania.
Topics include Belgian waffles, Surrealist bedtime stories, a forgotten Krautrock band, theatre, and Daddies - lots and lots of Daddies.
The song featured in this episode was ‘Fowl and Fruit’ by Patrick Kilpatrick which can be found here. Consider supporting their work!
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The Belgian Surrealists c. 1922
Rene Magritte, The Lost Jockey, 1936. Mixed media collage.
Rene Magritte, The Treachery of Images, 1929. Oil on canvas.
Rene Magritte, The Human Condition, 1935. Oil on canvas.
Rene Magritte, The Key to the Fields, 1936. Oil on canvas.
Rene Magritte, Early Morning, 1942. Oil on canvas
Rene Magritte, Not to Be Reproduced, 1937. Oil on canvas.
Giorgio de Chirico, The Soothsayer’s Recompense 1913. Oil on canvas
Giorgio de Chirico, Self-Portrait in the Studio, 1935. Oil on canvas
Giorgio de Chirico, Self-Portrait, c. 1922. Oil on canvas
Rene Magritte, Time Transfixed 1933. Oil on canvas.
Portrait of Rene with his self-portrait, Clairvoyance (Self-portrait)
French poet Andre Breton, founder and leader of the Surrealists.
Max Ernst, Surrealist painter. AKA LC’s partner and later, Peggy’s husband
Sigmund Freud, Austrian neurologist whose research influenced Surrealism
Rene with a little dog and a little tie
Giorgio de Chirico, The Song of Love, 1914. Oil on canvas
