Art | Pictures of the Month | May 2008
Picture of the Month
May 2008
The Flavour of Tears [1948]
by René Magritte
A striking and chilling image, The Flavour of Tears by René Magritte (1898-1967) cleverly subverts familiar imagery to create a poignant image of the impact of war.
Painted in the aftermath of the Second World War and with the onslaught of the Cold War, this painting reflects the state of ‘peace’ at a time of destruction and unrest. Its theatrical nature, with a dramatic red curtain drawn back to reveal a turbulent sky beyond, adds a certain element of tension. Destruction is recorded here literally and metaphorically: one notes the destruction of nature, as a caterpillar eats away a leaf, which forms the shape of a bird. To the Surrealists, birds were symbols of peace, whereas insects were associated with evil. Magritte comments on the uncertain fate of the bird by showing it reduced to the vulnerable state of a tobacco-plant leaf.
Magritte had joined the Surrealist Movement in 1925 and was well known for fantastical imagery. Many of his paintings depicted the metamorphosis of one object into another and the image of a plant transforming its leaves into the contours of a bird became a favourite theme of the artist. Magritte’s style, with its unsettling precision and clarity, adds to the surreal effect of this work. The painting presents a mournful theme, illustrating the complexities of human existence while reminding us of the annihilation of society in war.
The French title of the work, ‘La Saveur des Larmes’, is inscribed on the reverse of the painting along with the date. A replica with an identical inscription hangs in the Musée d’Art Moderne in Brussels. The pair, which are barely distinguishable from each other, were painted by the artist at around the same date.
This mysterious painting features in several forthcoming events at the Barber Institute this month. As part of the public lecture series, ‘Modern Art and the Barber Institute’, Dr Silvano Levy (Keele University) will speak in more depth about the painting on Wednesday 14 May at 1.10pm. Magritte will also come to life this year at the Barber Institute’s annual Family Open Day on Saturday 31 May!
Sarah Brown, Gallery Assistant
A 15-minute gallery talk focusing on this picture and exhibition will be held in the Green Gallery on Thursday 15 May at 1.30 pm.
| What is your favourite work of art in the Barber Institute galleries? Drop us a line at info@barber.org.uk and let us know, and we could feature your choice in a future Picture of the Month. |