Magritte / Old Masters Museum
22 May 2025
Expansive Lobby leading to the Magritte and Old (Dutch Masters) Museum
Warning and Disclaimer: The Dutch Masters considered the female form artistic. The 20th Century surrealists were greatly influenced by the art that came before, so Magritte also used the female form to explore modern themes. All that is to say, that herein lie works of art which contain female breasts, and may not be appropriate for all viewers.
The Man of the Open Sea, René Magritte, 1926
Julie and Anthony started with the Magritte Museum. You would be surprised how many of your favorite 20th Surrealist paintings (and dorm posters) are by Magritte.
Character meditating on madness, René Magritte 1928
The reflected image of the woman in the picture above was from Discovery, 1927, another painting in the gallery.
Forbidden Literature, René Magritte 1936
Magritte drawing of the mound at Waterloo
The Blaze, René Magritte 1943
The Survivor, René Magritte 1950
1.. ???
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3. Black Magic, René Magritte 1934
The Pebble René Magritte 1948
Domain of Arnheim, René Magritte , 1962 (one of the few paintings Julie actually liked)
While Magritte was a famous surrealist painter, he paid the bills by creating advertising. The above bottles combine art with the tangible.
The Voice of Blood René Magritte 1961
Drawing for Ready Made Bouquet
The Great Outdoors René Magritte , 1963-64
Empire of Light, René Magritte, 1949 (Julie liked this one too)
Detail from Empire of Night
View from the 3rd floor of the Magritte Museum
While I love sharing these paintings in our blog. I am acutely aware that this sample of pictures is not as meaningful out of context with all of the other paintings in the galleries, the descriptions of the paintings and being in the city near where the paintings were created. It is a much different experience looking at the paintings on a computer than actually seeing them in the museum. That is why you have to go!
Flower Arrangement, Jan Davidsz. de Heem, 1684 (Julie really liked this one)
View of Brussels, Jean Baptiste Bonnecroy ~ 1665
The King Charles Spaniel, Jerry, seen below was a favorite model of the Dutch masters in the 17th century. Jerry appears in numerous paintings. Julie and Anthony made a game of finding them throughout.
The still life paintings of food made me thing about the wonderful Belgian food.
The Assumption of the Virgin, Peter Paul Rubens, 17th century
Adoration of the Maji, Peter Paul Rubens, circa 1618
The lamentation of Christ with Saint Anthony, Peter Paul Rubens, 1617-1620
The intercession of the Virgin and of St Francis restrains the divine wrath, Peter Paul Rubens, 1634 - 36
Crowning of the Virgin, Peter Paul Rubens (workahop), 1624-26
St Martin Healing a Possessed Man, Jaques Jordaens, 17th Century
Jerry hanging out in the bottom left corner
Hercules, Balthaxar-Francois Tasson-Snel, 1830
Above: Hercules, below: a variation on the theme, just 2 of years later. Examples of Male and Female beauty, using the theme of Hercules
Workshop of Female Painters, Phillippe Van Bree, 1833
Now consider the images of male and female beauty in the Hercules paintings with the paintings of Adam and Eve from ~300 years earlier.
Adam and Eve, Lucas Cranach I, circa 1500
Last Judgement, School of Southern Netherlands 15th century
Justice of Emperor Otto III, Ordeal by Fire - Dirk Bouts 15th Century
The Temptation of Saint Anthony, Hieronymus Bosh, circa 1501