René Magritte, Time Transfixed, oil on canvas, Belgium ca. 1938, The Art Institute, Chicago.
René Magritte was an extremely important and recognizable artist. Many of his pieces can be seen today, but one is very known. This is Time Transfixed, painted using oil. Upon reviewing Magritte’s submission to the International Surrealist Exhibition in 1936, Edward James, a collector, invited him to paint works to be placed in the ballroom of James’ London home. Magritte agreed and produced On the Threshold of Liberty and the renowned Time Transfixed. He later explained this painting by stating, “I decided to paint the image of a locomotive…. In order for its mystery to be evoked, another immediately familiar image without mystery- the image of a dining room fireplace- was joined.” The size and complex contrast of the subjects, paired with Magritte’s usage of perfected realism, provide the painting with bewilderment and confusion. He created the rushing locomotive by altering the pipe of a coal-burning stove. He placed the train in the fireplace’s vent in hopes that it appears to be popping out from the railway tunnel. Magritte disliked the English translation of the French La durée poignardé, translating to “ongoing time stabbed by a dagger.” His hopes were that the piece would be placed at the lower level of James’ suitcase as the train “stabbed” guests on their way to the ballroom. Instead, he installed it below his fireplace. This miraculous piece shows the way that Surrealists thought and even provides a gateway to the soul of René Magritte.
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