When Magritte painted Poetry Personified

I have always been deeply fascinated by Magritte's paintings. "The Empire of Lights" is my absolute favorite. I have stood admiring it "forever" at the Peggy Guggenheim's Collection in Venice. But, there is a canvas in particular that keeps mesmerizing me. It dates back to 1937 and it is known as "The Therapist". The more I soak it in, the more I feel that it is much more than a mere depiction of the subconscious. I wrote a poem that does capture, or so I believe, the inner poetical nature of this work. To me this painting symbolizes the Poet. The wandering spirit with soles of wind, a bright red cloak, a straw hat, a walking cane and a bag full of books. Each Poet has a transparent soul, an exposed rib cage that cannot conceal the Truth where words in form of doves nest and sing.


Comments

  1. John Claude SmithDecember 2, 2011 at 4:43 PM

    Fantastic post, Alessandra. Your comments on the Magritte painting--one I don't know if I have seen before--are poetic magic, really. I really want to read the poem you based on this piece of art. "Each Poet has a transparent soul, an exposed rib cage that cannot conceal the Truth where words in form of doves nest and sing." Love that!

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  2. Alessandra BavaDecember 2, 2011 at 6:38 PM

    I am glad this touched you! You'll read the poem soon! :)

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