“Meditation” is an emblematic artwork crafted by the artist Rene Magritte in 1936 in Brussels, Belgium. Executed in oil on canvas, the piece reflects the Surrealist movement in which Magritte was a central figure. Measuring 50 by 65 centimeters, this symbolic painting is appreciated in a private collection, removed from public exhibition.
The artwork presents a stark seascape under a gradient of twilight hues, transitioning from sandy shores to the depths of the ocean. Dominating the lower half of the composition, three peculiar, candle-like objects rest on the beach with their flames lit against the encroaching dusk. Each waxen form undulates like a serpentine creature, rooted in the earth yet seemingly alive with an inner light. The beach and sea horizon divide the canvas horizontally, casting a tranquil yet eerie atmosphere that invites contemplation. The Surrealist qualities of the work are evident in the disorienting juxtaposition of the everyday—represented by the candles—with the ineffable, embodied by their organic, almost sentient shapes and the vast, empty seascape.
