“The Obsession” is an artwork created by Rene Magritte in 1928 in Belgium. This oil on canvas painting belongs to the Surrealism art movement and is characterized as a symbolic painting. The artwork measures 81 x 116 cm and is part of the collection at the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin in Berlin, Germany.
The artwork is divided into four distinct quadrants, each presenting a different scene. The top-left quadrant depicts densely packed tree trunks and foliage, evoking a mysterious forest. In contrast, the top-right quadrant features a serene expanse of sky with soft, fluffy clouds. The bottom-left quadrant shows the facade of a traditional red-brick building with multiple windows, each window appearing slightly open or shut, projecting a sense of everyday normality. Lastly, the bottom-right quadrant portrays a soldier, clad in what appears to be a vintage uniform, holding a long-barreled weapon and hinting at movement or action. The composition of these disjointed yet interconnected images invites viewers to explore the juxtaposition of natural and urban landscapes, and human presence within these environments, a hallmark of Magritte’s enigmatic and thought-provoking style.
