“The Explanation” is an artwork by René Magritte, created in 1952 in Brussels, Belgium. This piece, which is executed using oil on canvas, is a product of the Surrealist movement. Measuring 46 x 35 cm, the artwork falls under the still life genre and is currently held in a private collection.
The artwork portrays a surreal scene, typical of Magritte’s style, where commonplace objects are given extraordinary significance. Displayed are a bottle and a carrot, both positioned vertically side by side on what appears to be a table against a background of distant mountainous terrain and a dark, cloudy sky. The bottle is rendered in a dark, glossy hue, providing a stark contrast to the carrot’s vibrant orange pigmentation. A smaller carrot lies horizontally on the table. The juxtaposition of objects, scale, and setting creates an enigmatic and thought-provoking visual experience, inviting viewers to question their perceptions of reality.
