Rene Magritte painted La Trahison des images (Ceci n'est pas une pipe) in 1929. The painting, then turned into a lithograph, is a rendering of a plain pipe over a neutral background with the words, “Ceci n'est pas une pipe” written below the pipe. The translation means, “this is not a pipe.” Why is this an important work, and why bother writing about it (let alone making my own spoof of it)?
There are many reasons the painting stands as a consummate symbol of the surrealist movement. It also stands as an iconic image in our popular culture. The painting has many levels to it. One way to understand this painting is through the humor of it. Magritte painted the work with care of the illusion he made (the pipe is well rendered, and we think it looks believable); then he immediately contradicts himself underneath the object to indicate that it is not, in fact, the real thing. Why go through with effort of making an illusion to then immediately dispel it? We, as the viewer, obviously know we are looking at a painting, but he reasserts that we should be all too aware that it’s an illusion. The next aspect of the painting that makes it an image to behold is the tension between the subject and the text. We have a contrast in perception as we take in a representation of 3-dimensions, but we also take in a 2-dimensional text that communicates something metaphysical (an idea). We also have to question the nature of image depiction as something akin to literacy. Are we viewing a pipe, the idea of a pipe or the idea that we are, because we see the pipe? This wasn’t new to combine text with image; we’ve been doing it for thousands of years. This was a novel way to perceive of these things as opposing elements. Normally, they’d be complementary. The text Magritte uses is complementary in a sense, because it’s purposeful; the image fights the text, which makes it a contradiction. We are led down the rabbit-hole of perception as we navigate idea, representation, perception and how it all becomes filtered by our own being. It’s a deep rabbit-hole, and one that I don’t want to get lost down for too long.
The surrealists came out of the postmodern movement that dictated that truth is relative. I believe there is truth whether or not we’ve around to perceive it. I believe it is worthwhile to have humility in the limits of our perception. We may not see ultraviolet rays, but they exist (even if we can’t see them). There are many things that occur that happen beyond the scope of a human witness. I do like the idea of the futility in trying to rope down truth though. The epistemological journey is arduous to say the least; that’s not to say it’s impossible. We are finite in our scope and reach, but truth reigns triumphant and forever.
Our digital age has ushered in fakenews, ramped up propaganda and given everybody a voice (including yours truly). I see an endless sea of memes flowing through our screens into our heads; they tell us nothing. Mostly, they aren’t even contradictory. They are postmodern confused pictures that only obscure reality. There is no real perspective represented. The nameless artists shitpost these memes. They put these works out there only to incite anger. I actually think there is a place for that, but I wish they were done smarter. I’m an art snob, and I want a better quality shitpost.
I don’t agree with the sentiment that there is no truth; I don’t believe in moral relativism; I don’t believe in an empty existence. Everything occurs whether of not there is a witness. I think Magritte was merely questioning the nature of reality; he wasn’t denying truth. He was establishing an image that questioned the human limitation of comprehending the whole truth. The image is really about humility. It’s sort of a shitpost in a way. It’s about giving us a little slap for thinking we should be so sure of everything. I wish Magritte was around today to makes memes; unfortunately he’s not here today. You folks are stuck with a guy like me trying to carry on the traditions into the current day. So, this is not a meme, but it sure does look like one.