The Menaced Assassin by Rene Magritte | AllPaintingsStore.com

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"The Menaced Assassin"

Rene Magritte - Oil On Canvas - 150 x 195 cm


famous painting The Menaced Assassin of Rene Magritte
René Magritte's painting The Menaced Assassin, also known as L'Assassin menacé, is a 1927 oil on canvas masterpiece that exemplifies the artist's unique approach to surrealism. The painting measures 150 x 195 cm and is currently housed in the Museum of Modern Art (New York, United States).

The Artist: René Magritte

René Magritte was a Belgian surrealist artist who gained recognition for his thought-provoking and enigmatic paintings. Born in Lessines, Belgium, in 1898, Magritte began his artistic career as a draughtsman but later turned to painting. His work is characterized by its exploration of the relationship between reality and illusion, often featuring ordinary objects in unusual contexts.

The Painting: The Menaced Assassin

The Menaced Assassin depicts a well-dressed man standing next to a couch on which a blood-smeared nude woman lies. The assassin appears to be ready to leave, but he is delayed by the sound of music coming from a gramophone. Two men armed with a club and net wait in the doorway, watching the scene unfold.

Style and Movement

Magritte's work is often associated with surrealism, a movement that emerged in the early 20th century as a reaction against rational thought. Surrealist artists sought to explore the irrational and subconscious mind through their art. Magritte's use of ordinary objects in unusual contexts, as well as his exploration of the relationship between reality and illusion, are characteristic of this movement.

Size, Media, Date, and Location

The Menaced Assassin is a large oil on canvas painting that measures 150 x 195 cm. It was created in 1927 and is currently housed in the Museum of Modern Art (New York, United States).

Analysis of Subject Matter and Symbolism

The subject matter of The Menaced Assassin is a complex and enigmatic scene that invites interpretation. The assassin's delayed departure, as well as the presence of the two men in the doorway, suggests a sense of unease and tension. The blood-smeared nude woman on the couch adds to this sense of danger and violence. The symbolism of the painting is also open to interpretation. The gramophone, for example, may represent the power of art to both delight and disturb. The two men in the doorway, armed with a club and net, may symbolize the forces of authority and control that seek to contain and limit the human experience. Further Reading: To learn more about René Magritte and his work, visit The Museum of Modern Art (New York, United States). For a comprehensive overview of the surrealist movement, see The Pop Art Movement on WahooArt.com.
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