Attempting the Impossible 1928

René Magritte, a Belgian artist, created this oil on canvas painting called ‘Attempting the Impossible’, sometime in the middle of the 20th century. The image depicts an artist painting a nude woman into existence, which seems to question the traditional power dynamics between the artist and the model. Magritte’s art emerged in a Europe grappling with social and political upheaval. The artwork perhaps embodies the anxieties around creation and control that permeated a society undergoing rapid transformation. In the history of Western Art, the male gaze has always been a point of discussion, especially in the depiction of women, therefore it is important to analyse the symbols and visual cues. The artist, dressed in a suit, could represent the established, patriarchal structures of the art world, while the nude woman, seemingly brought to life by his hand, embodies the objectification of the female form. To fully appreciate this artwork, we could delve into manifestos and publications from the Surrealist movement. This kind of research can help us to situate Magritte’s work within the broader social and intellectual currents of his time.