The big family by René Magritte

This brilliant manifestation of surrealism combines opposing natural elements to arouse a combined impression of lightness, freedom, and anxiety. The memorable painter René Magritte produces a fascinating poetic composition called “The big family” which plays on contrasts of mood and visual paradoxes. By merging the bird and the sky, the artist proposes a metaphor for universal harmony confronted with the tumultuous elements of nature.:::::A huge white bird in full flight spreads its majestic wings across almost the entire upper pictorial space. The silhouette of this flying creature is not solid but serves as an open window onto a beautiful blue sky dotted with fine, fluffy white clouds. This bright celestial pattern contrasts radically with the background of the canvas, which consists of a dark horizon and a stormy sky laden with heavy grayish clouds. At the bottom of the painting, a rough sea with dark reflections displays small frothy waves that edge the base of the flying creature. The light seems to emanate from the very inside of the bird of prey, creating a soothing glow in the middle of a darkened and threatening environment.:::::The artisanal brilliance is expressed in the delicate blending of landscapes and the perfect cutting of the animal shape. The artist uses oil paint with surgical precision to juxtapose two distinct climatic worlds on a single support. This technical skill gives a striking credibility to this pure poetic invention.