The marches of summer (1939; Brussels, Belgium) by Rene Magritte

“The Marches of Summer,” created by Rene Magritte in 1939 in Brussels, Belgium, is an oil on canvas that belongs to the Surrealist movement. This symbolic painting measures 73 x 60 cm and is housed in the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris in Paris, France.

The artwork portrays a surreal, fragmented torso of a classical statue, placed on a ledge that overlooks a dreamlike landscape. The background features a serene seascape with distant mountains and an expansive sky filled with fluffy clouds, interrupted by surreal floating blocks. The combination of realistic elements with fantastical ones creates a juxtaposition characteristic of Magritte’s work, in which everyday objects take on an enigmatic and thought-provoking allure. The stark, smooth surfaces and the meticulous attention to detail further enhance the dreamlike quality of the piece, inviting viewers to ponder the nature of reality and illusion.