The artwork titled “Forbidden Literature (The Use of the Word)” by René Magritte, produced in 1936 in Brussels, Belgium, belongs to the Surrealism art movement and is categorized as a symbolic painting.
In the artwork, a large, realistic depiction of a human thumb occupies the center foreground, emerging from a polished wooden floor. Above the thumb hovers a spherical object, split slightly apart, exuding a sense of balanced tension. On the floor, the word “sérène” is inscribed in elegant, cursive script. To the right, a set of stairs with a balustrade ascends, suggesting a transition or an upward path. The room’s background, featuring muted tones and clean lines, contrasts starkly with the unusual central elements, creating an enigmatic atmosphere characteristic of surrealist symbolist painting. The composition evokes a sense of mystery, inviting viewers to explore the deeper meanings embodied within everyday objects arranged in an unconventional manner.
