The Wonders of Nature (Les Merveilles de la nature), 1953

The Wonders of Nature (Les Merveilles de la nature), 1953

The Wonders of Nature (Les Merveilles de la nature), 1953

This painting by Magritte, who is one of the most well-known and influential surrealists, deals with body image and identity. As we are connecting novels to higher art forms, this particular piece made me think of Orlando by Virginia Woolf. One cannot actually tell if the fish people are male or female, though it is likely there is one male and one female, but regardless of this, they appear to be in love. Orlando deals with the importance of gender in being a part of the human experience, so these two seemed very linked.

René Magritte

1953

Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago: Gifted by Joseph and Jory Shapiro, 1982

Oil on canvas

oil on canvas

77.5 x 98.1 cm