The Menaced Assassin
The Menaced Assassin (French: L'Assassin menacé) is a 1927 oil on canvas painting by Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte.
| The Menaced Assassin | |
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| Artist | René Magritte |
| Year | 1927 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 150.4 cm × 195.2 cm (59.2 in × 76.9 in) |
| Location | Museum of Modern Art, New York City |
The main subject of the 1927 René Magritte painting, a blood-smeared nude woman, is seen lying on a couch. The assassin of the painting's title, a well-dressed man, stands ready to leave, his coat and hat on a chair next to his bag. He is however delayed by the sound of music, and in an unhurriedly relaxed manner, listens to a gramophone. In the meantime, two men armed with club and net wait in the foyer to ensnare him, as three more men also watch from over the balcony. It is said that the gramophone is replaying the screams of the murdered woman. Outside, we can see snowy mountains. It is a simple painting at first glance, typical of Magritte and surrealist art in general.
References
- Museum of Modern Art (November 2004). MoMA Highlights: 350 Works from The Museum of Modern Art. New York: The Museum of Modern Art. pp. 103. ISBN 978-0-87070-490-1.