- Artists
USA
Netherlands
Netherlands
Poland
Spain
France 
The Treachery of Images (This is not a pipe)
The painting 'The Treachery of Images' by René Magritte humorously highlights the difference between language and meaning. It features a realistic image of a pipe with an inscription stating that this is not a pipe. Magritte forces the viewer to reflect on the fact that images and words are merely representations of reality and are not the objects themselves. The painting has been conventionally interpreted as a metaphor concerning illusion and perception in art.
Portrait of the Creator
-
Artist
Rene Magritte
-
Date of birth and death
21 November 1898 – 15 August 1967
-
Natinality
Belgian
-
Style
Surrealism with representational technique, ironic juxtapositions, poetic imagery
-
Significant works
The Treachery of Images, The Son of Man, The Human Condition, Golconda, The Menaced Assassin
Information about the work
-
Year:
1928-1929
-
Execution technique:
oil on canvas
-
Location:
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Los Angeles, USA
-
Theme:
surrealism, painting, perception, illusion, symbolism
Internal Narrative and Creative Framework
-
Inner Narrative
The work questions the realistic perception of objects and their representations, pointing to the limitations of language and image in conveying reality.
The key to interpreting the work
The analysis should consider the context of surrealism, the philosophy of language and semiotics, as well as Magritte's influence on conceptual art and pop art.See other works by this artist
