The artwork, “Manet’s Balcony,” created by the artist René Magritte in 1950, is an oil on canvas piece belonging to the Surrealism movement. It is an allegorical painting and is currently located at the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent, Belgium.
The artwork showcases a surreal and somber scene in which four wooden coffins are depicted standing upright on a balcony. These coffins are positioned behind a green wrought iron railing, within the confines of closed green shutters to either side. The presence of a potted hydrangea to the left contributes a layer of normalcy amidst the otherwise surreal elements. Magritte’s trademark technique of juxtaposing everyday objects in an unusual context is evident, evoking contemplation on themes such as mortality and the mundane. The precise detail in the rendering of the coffins and the interplay of shadows and light on their wooden surfaces add to the realistic yet dreamlike quality characteristic of Magritte’s work.
