Project of poster "The center of textile workers in Belgium" 1938

René Magritte made this poster project for “The center of textile workers in Belgium”, but when it was made, remains a mystery. Magritte’s paintings always have a very crisp, clear, almost commercial art kind of feel, and this one is no exception. It’s as if he’s carefully constructing a scene, placing each element with precision. Look at the way he renders the textures – the smoothness of the bobbin, the flatness of the red flag, the industrial looking factory in the background. It’s all so deliberate! And that bobbin, it’s not just a bobbin; it’s a symbol, right? It’s like he’s saying something about the labor, industry, and the workers themselves. The way he combines these everyday objects in such a surreal way makes you stop and think. It reminds me a bit of Giorgio de Chirico, with that same sense of mystery and alienation. Ultimately, Magritte embraces the ambiguity, and invites us to find our own meaning.