“The Sea of Flames” is a 1946 oil on canvas painting created by the Belgian surrealist artist RenĂ© Magritte in Brussels. This artwork, which belongs to the Surrealism art movement, is a nude painting and currently resides in a private collection.
The artwork depicts three nude women standing with their long, flowing blonde hair cascading down their bodies. Each figure is presented with serene and composed expressions, contributing to the dreamlike and enigmatic atmosphere typically associated with Magritte’s work. The central figure meets the viewer’s gaze directly, while the other two figures, positioned on either side, appear more introspective, gazing downward or to the side. In the surrealist manner, one figure on the right has a large frog perched on her hair. The background consists of a soft sky with hues of blue, pink, and lavender, framed by vertical elements that might represent curtains or natural formations. The overall composition and the use of light imbue the scene with a mystical and otherworldly quality, in line with Magritte’s exploration of the uncanny and the dream state.