“The Taste of Sorrow,” created by Rene Magritte in 1948 in Brussels, Belgium, is an oil painting on canvas measuring 59.4 x 49.5 cm. This symbolic painting, a representative piece of the Surrealism art movement, is housed in the Barber Institute of Fine Arts in Birmingham, UK.
The artwork presents a striking and somewhat melancholic composition. A large, greenish figure, seemingly part plant and part bird, stands prominently in the foreground. The figure’s form mimics that of a human torso but is covered in plant-like textures and leaves that intertwine with its body. The creature’s head, resembling that of a bird, tilts downward, embodying a sense of solemnity. The background features a dark and tumultuous sky, with grey clouds adding to the overall somber tone of the scene. The figure is juxtaposed against a deep red curtain on the right, introducing a contrasting element to the natural and the surreal. The painting evokes a sense of sorrow and introspection, in line with the symbolism suggested by its title.
