“The Tree of Knowledge” is an influential piece of artwork created by René Magritte in 1929 in Paris, France. This symbolic painting, executed in oil on canvas, belongs to the Surrealism art movement, and its dimensions are 41 x 27 cm.
The artwork portrays a surreal scene characterized by its thought-provoking ambiguity. Against a greenish background, there is an ephemeral, cloud-like form emerging from what appears to be a cylindrical container. This form is reminiscent of a speech bubble or perhaps a thought cloud. Centrally within this ghostly shape, the word “sabre” is prominently inscribed, while further down, another segment of the cloud displays the word “cheval.” This unconventional union of words with visual elements emphasizes the surrealist notion of challenging reality and viewers’ perceptions, inviting a deep reflection on the relationship between language and imagery.
