René Magritte is one of the most brilliant representatives of Surrealism. His paintings are riddles revealing the connection between various objects. These riddles have no correct answer, and each viewer finds their own. Magritte said that his art “does not mean anything, because mystery means nothing either, it is unknowable.” Below you will find 5 amazing facts about René Magritte, uncovering him as a person and an artist. Check them out if you want to understand art better!

5 Amazing Facts about René Magritte

1. Cloth covering faces

One of the most common facts about René Magritte is the tragedy that had a significant impact on his art. In March 1912, René’s mother drowned in the River Sambre. When the woman was taken out, the hem of her skirt twisted around her head as if hiding it from public view and preserving a certain mystery. The motif of the covered face is repeated in a number of Magritte’s works.

2. Riddles

The concept of his art is both philosophical and poetic. Magritte’s goal, by his admission, is to make the viewer think. Therefore, his paintings often resemble riddles that are impossible to solve.

3. The man in the bowler hat

The painting “Golconda” depicts people wearing coats and bowler hats and coming down from the sky like raindrops. Magritte said that the artwork embodies the impersonality of the crowd and the loneliness of the individual able to experience real life only in dreams.

4. Three times a communist

The artist joined the Communist Party of Belgium three times, in 1932, 1936, and 1945, and left it twice. He disagreed with his comrades over the role of art in the socialist promotion ideas.

5. Horses were the first

The artist painted his first piece when he was 16 years old. It depicted horses running out of a burning stable.

These were 5 amazing facts about René Magritte, a mysterious and great surrealist artist. Do not miss our new blog posts to learn more from the world of art!