“The Postcard” is an artwork by Rene Magritte, a renowned Belgian surrealist artist, created in 1960. The symbolic painting, rendered in oil on canvas, is a significant piece within the Surrealism art movement. The artwork is housed at the Mayor Gallery in London, UK, and engages viewers with its thought-provoking and dream-like visual narrative.
The artwork presents a striking and enigmatic scene wherein an oversized green apple entirely obscures the face of a man dressed in a formal dark suit. The figure’s crisp attire contrasts with the soft, organic form of the apple. He stands against a low wall with a mountainous landscape stretching into the distance behind him. The surreal over-scaling of the apple in relation to the man and the landscape plays with the viewer’s sense of reality and perspective. Magritte’s choice to cover the subject’s face with the fruit can be interpreted as a commentary on the nature of perception and the hidden layers of identity. The juxtaposition of everyday objects in unusual contexts is a frequent theme in Magritte’s oeuvre, often leaving the audience with a sense of mystery and contemplation. The serene and luminous sky ties the elements together, providing a calm backdrop to an otherwise disconcerting and fantastical composition.
