The Menaced Assassin
| The Menaced Assassin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | René Magritte |
| Year | 1927 |
| Catalogue | 79267 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 150.4 cm × 195.2 cm (59.2 in × 76.9 in) |
| Location | Museum of Modern Art, New York |
| Accession | 247.1966 |
The Menaced Assassin (French: L'Assassin menacé) is an oil on canvas painting by Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte, from 1927. It is held at the Museum of Modern Art, in New York .
Description
The main subject of the painting is a blood-smeared nude woman, 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. Outside, we can see snowy mountains. It is an enigmatic and macabre painting at first glance, typical of Magritte style.
See also
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.