René Magritte

Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte (1898-1967) often placed physically real objects in decidedly unreal worlds: a pipe in the sky, a hat floating through a doorway, a steam train emerging from a fireplace mantel. His juxtaposition of worlds and playful mélange of realistic style, surrealistic content, and unexpected shifts in scale are trademarks of his work. During his lifetime he felt much disdain for the circle of surrealist artist, however it is as a surrealist he is remembered. He is one of Belgium's favorite sons with a museum of his own right on the Grand Place, Brussel's crowded central square.