The Secret Life (La vie secrète), 1928Magritte combines ordinary things—a tree stump and clouds—to create an illogical scene.What others had to say about The Secret Life (La vie secrète), 1928:1/11/2009 Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? The terror of isolation. That dreamlike quality you get before you realize you aren't just still, you are alone. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? The framing of the piece. All the elements represented are things that are familiar, and yet this presentation brings a sense of fear. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? hmm how very dreamy, the clouds remind me of a psychologists ink blot test. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? my dreams are as vivid and colorful as this painting - quiet like Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? The clouds are very calming and perfect, as if you could just sit and look at them all day and not worry about your life or troubles. But the tree stump is the reminder of imperfection telling you not to forget all the bad times. Like a block in your complete happiness telling you that you will never be fully at peace and relaxed. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? The symmetry of the clouds and the coldness and imperfection of the tree stump. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? It makes me wonder what are beyond the clouds? Also, if you notice, everything in the picture is symetrical, except for what apears to be that block of marble on the right. Everything was perfectly placed, but somehow that marble got there. It makes me feel suspicious. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? Just how that marble messess up the symetrical look of the painting. I don't know why it was put there either. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? This painting evokes the feeling to freely explore the inner self, without social restirctions or constraints. This feeling is liberating and revolutionary. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? I only know that when you heart feels like those clouds is when there can be space, both internally and externally for expression and openess. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? I can't really explain how this painting made me feel, I just know that I had to stop and ponder the possible message for a while. I guess I could say that it's very peaceful. Like someones mind finally clear and at rest for once. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? The floor with stump makes me think I could sit on the stump and just watch the clouds. No stress or worries to ponder over, just me and the stump and clouds. The walls remind me that there is still a room, and that I'm not completely free of my worries, but just for that moment, I can relax worry-free. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? This painting made me feel calm, yet curious. It was as if I were in a dream. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? I enjoyed the "mirror image" in the clouds, and also the detail in the wood grain of the floor. This peice made me think of lazy summer days spent gazing at the sky. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? The painting's cartoonish appearance drew me to examine it closer. (the clouds remind me of the opening credits of The Simpsons). Then it reminded me of a stage. Then I noticed some comments pointing out that the object is not a stump. I agree. It reminds me of a sawn piece of petrified wood, and why is it there? I like someone's comment about "imagine sitting on the stump". Then if you look at the top of the frame, you feel like you are in a box, looking out, maybe a small box, and you are small. If so, then imagine what is behind you? Is it the back of the box? Now imagine you are laying on your back in this box, and you are looking up at the clouds. and the object is jutting from the wall of the box. I think this painting could drive me mad. Yeah, why are those clouds symmetrical? wow, so many questions and perspectives from such a simple appearing painting. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? I think this painting could drive me mad. Yeah, why are those clouds symmetrical? wow, so many questions and perspectives from such a simple appearing painting. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? I can't really explain how this painting made me feel, I just know that I had to stop and ponder the possible message for a while. I guess I could say that it's very peacefull. Like someones mind finally clear and at rest for once. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? The floor with stump makes me think I could sit on the stump and just watch the clouds. No stress or worries to ponder over, just me and the stump and clouds. The walls remind me that there is still a room, and that I'm not completely free of my worries, but just for that moment, I can relax worry-free. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? To me it represents loneliness. The room is barren except for a single log. It is loneliness combined with an optimisn for it's own potential. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? The clouds in the background represent optimism and potential. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? This painting makes me feel trapped, but not in a panicky way. It's very calm feeling--I know I'm trapped with what seems like freedom in arms reach, but I know it's impossible to free myself anyway. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? The fact that the shadow doesn't continue outside gives you a sense that that the sky is not a wall, that I could leave this room that frames the sky, but the symmetry of the clouds reminds me that it isn't real and I have to spend eternity in that room. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? There is a lot about this painting that seems to evoke the feeling of freedom and fear after completing a major milestone in life like graduating from college--you want to embrace the possibilities by jumping out into the sky, but at the same time you can't really see where it leads...or even if the peaceful sky just a curtain or wall hiding something far more sinister! What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? It's a very interesting contraast--on one hand, there's concrete bouandries of the walls, ceiling and floor; on the other hand you're confronted with the openness of the sky, broken only by the piece of wood...to me, that single block is the most intriguing part of the painting. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? nervous. excited. anxious. small. boxed in. at the edge. important, choice-making. memorable. hesitant. unsure. afraid. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? the sky is endless and mysterious and reflective, so it feels as if it goes on forever. The stump seems almost like a tumor, it frustrates you, you want it to not be there. But maybe the stump represents your own fears that cause you to hesitate and it's your mind that puts it there. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? looking at any Magritte makes me smile because I recall seeing an entire Magritte exhibit in Lausanne in 1987. I love the fanciful combination of images, the alteration of what would classically be boundaries... What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? this particular painting makes me feel like I could walk right out of the room into a free fall-- yet it isn't a scary prospect Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? Hope and imagination. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? The cornices and hardwwod flooring make me feel like I am confined in a room. The sky at the front of the room, however suggests that we can gain a new perspective on the circumstances we are presented with and live with great hope; Life is beautiful if we choose to believe it is and to seek a higher perspective. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? It makes me feel fresh and free. It makes me remember times when I felt dreamy and imaginative. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? I like the clouds and the sky. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? The Truman Show What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? looking out at the world Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? This painting references the imagination, the endless possibilities of personal thoughts, desires, fears and hopes. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? The ongoing blue sky with no skyline and the blod, clean lines of the tree stump. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? I feel that I am on a stage. With the beautiful sky behind me. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? I love the symetry of the clouds. It makes me feel connected. My life feels as one because of the enclosure. THat everything has its match in life. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? I'm not sure what is large and what is small when I look at this painting. It's very mysterious. I don't know if I am outside or Looking into a box What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? The scale Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? It made me feel isolated. Like the whole world is presented there on that screen, but still alone. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? It is definately the stark bareness of the room that makes me react. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? Hope and prospects. It reminds me of the first time I performed on a stage. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? In a strange way, this painting reminds me of the phrase "the world is a stage." The walls create an arch such as that of a stage, opening up to a vast scene of clouds and endless possibilites. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? It gives off the sense of day dreaming. The back wall disappears into a beautiful yet symmetrically unnatural skyscape allowing escape from the room. The dream-like environment beyond the opened wall has infected the room, turning a piece of furniture back into a tree trunk. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? It reminds me of being trapped in my old tiny appartment studying, and wishing I could escape to anywhere but there. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? It reminds me of my childhood trips to the beach. Blue sky and pieces of driftwood scatteres on the sand. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? The crisp colors and contrast of shades. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? isolation What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? the black and white stump against the colorful backdrop. the harsh lines of the stump with the soft lines of the clouds Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? I believe Magritte has a great sense of humor,and this is another painting that exhibits it. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? The perspective is shown with the walls, which point to the backdrop of a sky. The sky could either be the actual sky or a representation of an infinite perspective. The block to the right makes us wonder what it is and what it is there for. Is this the set to a play? Or maybe that block is there to tell us "do not walk any further or you will fall!" We do not know. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? The emotion that this painting evoked from me would be a feeling of endlessness. I was deeply intrigued by the one point perspective used to create the room yet in contridicts the sky background. The sky is always talked about being limitless. I like the way the room creates such a small space yet it seems to continue forever because of the sky. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? This painting affects me personally because I feel that the stump symbolizes a person stuck in a confide room with big ideas. As a student I recognize the confinments of society. I can relate to being the stump and be unable to do anyting with my big ideas. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? Peace What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? Reminds me of day dreaming when you can put the current every day bustle aside at least for a few moments Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? that's not a tree stump. why are the clouds symmetrical? What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? most tree stumps are not rectangular in my experience Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? IT gives me a feeling of being lost with no where to go... What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? perhaps i already am Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? This painting evokes a sense of betrayal to me. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? The cloud scape is a mirror image left to right. There is a great deal of hidden structure: the planking, the rigedness of the molding on the wall. Even the very stump seems very stone like. It is titled "Secret Life", and attempts to bring forth a sense of freedom and wonder with the open sky, but really it is screaming that there is no freedom--just rigidness everywhere Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? my first response was "wow, 2001, a space oddessey" in a painting that way predated either Arthur C. Clarke's novel, and of course, the movie that followed. A positive connection--but also disturbing as to the construction of "meaning".... things to come; things yet unknown. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? A dual expression of freedom to pour forth; and terror--is that all there is???? Depends, perhaps on the vagaries of mood at the moment Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? The picture makes me feel curious because you have no clue what is about to happen. It makes me remember the talent show. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? i paticipated in the school talent show for 3 yrs. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? I believe this painting represents individualism. The tree stump obviously represents the the single individual and the clouds and the sky represent the world in full. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? I believe that this piece is a symbol of which we has humans are all alone in this universe and it is a predispostion of human nature to interact with others. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? The potential for freedom. It's an invitation to jump...like out of a plane. Just can't figure out what the wood is for? What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? The cliff-like platform and obviously the clouds. Reminds me of a cargo plane's door. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? I am frustrated by this painting. Secret life? Inside or outside? What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? There is no secret life by all meanings. Secrets are only for others, but never for yourself. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? setting the stage for a dream, but in a theatrical format. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? a strange tilt in time and perception Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? Kinds of invites me to peek into the vast expanse beyond What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? It has got an amazing feeling of space, looks much biiger than it is! Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? freedom, dreaming, open ideas, creativity What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? feels like I am just beginning a journey, endless possiblities Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? suspense and a feeling of being high up and if i lean over i could fall. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? the use of perspective and the shadowing. also the fact that you cant see the ground which makes me feel that the sky is neverending. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? It give me the emotions of strange feeling that being in the wrong area at the right time can turn out well. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? It makes me repond that you are so small in a limitless world and you have so much do do in such a small time. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? It brings up a sense of imagnation because it shows a sky and like they always say... "The skies the limit!!!!" What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? It makes me have a sense of possiblity and that anything can and will happen Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? Stage, acting, theater. Modern art What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? It looks like a stage, and reminds me of the acting I do. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? empty,left behind. (memories) my grade school auditoriums, plays. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? the curtain like setting. being around the auditorium when i was younger Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? Very strange ? What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? As if I were standing, ready to jump off the planet into nothing? Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? IF YOU LOOK AT THIS LONG ENOUGH YOU NOTICE A NARROWING OF FIELD, THE FRAMING DISSOLVES AND YOU ARE IN THE CLOUDS ... AND WHAT IS IT WE WOULD SEE IF WE WERE SEATED ON THE STUMP (OR RATHER, CHOPPING BLOCK? WHEN I WAS A BIT YOUNGER SPLITTING WOOD WAS A HAZARDOUS NECESSITY IN THE WINTER MONTHS. WE SET THE TREE SECTIONS ON SIMILAR SHAPED BLOCKS AS PAINTED HERE TO CHOP OR SPLIT...) What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? THAT IS NOT A TREE STUMP PER SE, IT IS A SECTION OF SOMETHING RESEMBLING A SECTION OF TREE THAT HAS BEEN CUT ON BOTH ENDS (THERE'S NO ROOTS, THUS NOT A STUMP)THE INFINITY OF OPEN SKY W/ CLOUDS MIGHT REPRESENT A FUTURE OF SITTING ON A CHUNK OF WOOD UPON A STAGE (OF LIFE?). OR IS IT THE CHOPPING BLOCK ILLOGICAL...perhaps. BUT IT'S ACCORDING TO WHAT STAGE OF LIFE MAGRITTE WANTED TO EXPRESS, PERHAPS LONGED FOR THE TIME WHEN HE COULD SIT IN THE PORTAL AND WATCH THE CLOUDS ROLL BY (AS IN HIS YOUTH?) Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? awe and reverence What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? The log stump in the foreground is in the foreground in intermediate state between me the viewer and the world beyond. It seems ordinary and dumb, but through the threshold we see this symetrical cloud arrangement that seems to imply order in what would otherwise seem to be the cruel randomness of natural phenomenon. Does this painting bring up particular emotions? does it remind you of a memory? This scene reminds me of something you’d see in a dream. It appears to represent a tree stump on a stage with a cloudy sky as a backdrop—I feel disoriented. The image represents something not from reality; it’s completely nonsensical. What about the painting makes you respond the way you do? How does your personal experiences affect the way you react to the painting? The illogical arrangement of the painting makes me uneasy. I tend to like things that are more logical. I guess I’m just a logical person. |
René Magritte (Belgian, 1898-1967). The Secret Life (La vie secrète), 1928. Oil on canvas; 54 x 72.78 cm. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Lockwood Thompson
1992.298 © 2008 C. Herscovici, Brussels/ Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York |
This exhibition has been organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
In Detroit, the exhibition is proudly sponsored by Bank of America. Additional support has been provided by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the City of Detroit.
In Detroit, the exhibition is proudly sponsored by Bank of America. Additional support has been provided by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the City of Detroit.