The Tune and Also the Words

René MagritteWW-1964-040187

1964·Gouache over traces of graphite on cream wove paper·36.2 × 54.8 cm (14 5/16 × 21 5/8 in.)

<p>René Magritte first conceived this famous image in oil on canvas in 1929, when he was most interested in the relationship between words and pictures. In this work from 1964, Magritte revisited the image, in gouache. “Ceci n’est pas une pipe” (This is not a pipe) articulates that the reproduction of the pipe is not the pipe itself, nor is the word “pipe” an actual pipe, the implement to smoke tobacco. Magritte retitled this version <em>The Tune and Also the Words (L’Air et la Chanson) </em> because, as he put it, “it is desirable that such a thing is found in as many ‘households’ as possible.”</p>

Catalogue

Year: 1964
Medium: Gouache over traces of graphite on cream wove paper
Dimensions: 36.2 × 54.8 cm (14 5/16 × 21 5/8 in.)
Collection: Art Institute of Chicago
Artist: René Magritte

Artist

René Magritte

Painting

R ené Magritte was a leading Belgian Surrealist artist known for his thought-provoking images that challenge perception and representation. Explore Magritte’s influential biography, iconic works like The Treachery of Images, and the strong market demand for his paintings in major museums and auctions worldwide.

Lessines, Belgium

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