#2

            The Menaced Assassin by one of the great surrealists, Rene Magritte, first appeared in 1927 during the artist’s first solo exhibition. Currently on display in the MoMA, this painting is oil on canvas measuring 59 1/4 x 6’4 7/8, making it one of his largest works. Taking place in a small room with very light pink walls and a tan floor, the painting creates a strong contrast between its cooler colored surroundings and monochromatic characters. In the foreground of the piece we see two bowler hat wearing men looking suspicious and flanking the doorway. The one on the left is holding a cudgel while the right one holds a net. The shapes used for these figures seem to be rectangular and normal in terms of body structure with circular peach toned heads. Both are wearing all black clothing with white undershirts and black ties. The implied light of these two give us some sense of depth, as if we were looking into this painting. The lines stretching throughout the floor seem to reinforce this idea. Reaching the mid-section we have a man slightly resembling the previous two in terms of shape and clothing, but missing a bowler hat; a vintage record player resting on top a small table, a chair with the mans jacket and hat on it, a dark red suitcase on the floor, and finally a presumably dead pale woman lying nude on a red bed with blood coming out of her mouth. Reaching the background of the piece another doorway is observed with an engraved fence on the bottom. At this opening, you see only the heads of three men, strongly resembling the rest. The middle and right man are concentrated with the scene while the left man seems to be looking at the other two. In back of them, mountains varying from grey-white topped with a light blue sky.         
            Almost instantaneously this painting reminds me of old school detective novels. Given the time period, it can be heavily implied that Magritte was influenced by the rise of crime films. Even the perspective gives us that same moviegoer feel. It’s a fairly straightforward piece, incredibly immersive, but the mystery it holds is probably the best aspect. It’s hard to decipher who really is the ‘bad guy’ in this painting. I see it as the man in the middle committed the murder and the other five men are ambushing him at the scene of the crime. But then why are the two outer men holding weapons? Why is one of the heads in the back looking at the others? It’s like viewing a still from a crime film, never to know the resolution or cause.