The artwork, entitled “Portrait,” is a remarkable creation by the esteemed Surrealist artist René Magritte, painted in 1935 in Brussels, Belgium. Rendered in oil on canvas, this still life painting exemplifies the Surrealist movement both in its form and content.
In this artwork, Magritte presents a meticulously detailed scene of a dining setting. Central to the composition is a white plate upon which rests a slice of ham featuring a peculiar yet striking detail: a human eye embedded in its center. Adjacent to the plate lies a standard set of cutlery consisting of a fork and knife arranged in a traditional manner. Additionally, there is a tall, dark bottle positioned next to an empty glass, creating a stark contrast against the neutral background. The ethereal and enigmatic quality of the piece is emblematic of Surrealism, inviting the viewer to question the nature of reality and the boundaries between the ordinary and the extraordinary.
