One of the most recognized works of Surrealism, illustrating Magritte's philosophical theme that visible objects conceal hidden truths.
Key Facts
- Year painted
- 1964
- Artist
- René Magritte
- Type
- Self-portrait
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Notable element
- Green apple obscuring the subject's face
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Magritte sought to create a self-portrait that embodied his longstanding philosophical interest in concealment and the tension between what is visible and what is hidden, themes central to his Surrealist practice throughout his career.
In 1964, Magritte painted The Son of Man, depicting a suited man in a bowler hat before a sea and cloudy sky, his face largely obscured by a floating green apple, with his eyes barely visible above it and his left arm subtly bent backwards.
The painting became Magritte's most widely recognized work, frequently reproduced in popular culture, and is regarded as a definitive visual statement of Surrealist ideas about perception, concealment, and the limits of visible reality.