“The Meaning of Night” is an oil painting on canvas created by the renowned artist René Magritte in 1927 while he was in Paris, France. The artwork measures 139 by 105 centimeters and is part of the Surrealism art movement. It is considered a symbolic painting and currently resides in the Menil Collection in Houston, Texas, United States.
The artwork portrays a mysterious and symbolic scene. In the foreground, a man dressed in a dark overcoat and bowler hat faces forward with a serene, enigmatic expression, his eyes closed as if in contemplation or slumber. Behind him stands another figure, almost a mirror image, though with his back turned, creating a sense of duality or reflection. The setting is surreal, a desolate beach with patches of white cloud-like formations on the ground, contributing to the dreamlike atmosphere. Additionally, there is a peculiar, almost unsettling presence of a disembodied, hand grasping what seems to be masses of hair or unknown organic forms, further intensifying the surreal and enigmatic quality of the composition. The overall scene evokes a sense of the uncanny and invites viewers to ponder the deeper meanings and symbolic underpinnings of night and identity.
