The White Page, 1967 by Rene Magritte

The White Page, 1967 by Rene Magritte
The White Page, 1967 by Rene Magritte

Placing a yellow circle strategically in the upper center of the composition, Magritte toys with the viewer's imagination. The yellow circle floats in the night sky yet appears in front of a tree branch, suggesting that it is in fact a plump fruit rather than a full moon.

Magritte creates a figure with dual identities; depending on the viewer's perception, the yellow circle serves different functions. Magritte beautifully balances this layered composition, placing the sprawling city at the bottom of the composition and the tree branch at the top. The work relays a sense of quiet calm, as though the viewer can almost hear the crickets chirping in the dead of night.