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Golconde

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Abhinand K.V

Magritte's 1953 painting Golconde depicts a hexagonal grid pattern of identical men appearing to rain down from the sky above an urban landscape. While the men seem to move, they are neither rising nor falling. The uniforms of the men suggest they have desk jobs, potentially commenting on societal expectations of masculinity at that time. The detailed shadows and odd half-windows seen further illustrate the surreal quality of the scene, which is viewed from mid-air, involving the viewer in the dream-like setting.

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Magritte was making in his paintings only in the last years of his life. The painting was named after the ancient Indian city, famous for the production of especially large diamonds. As was often the case with Magritte's works, the title Golconda was found by his poet friend Louis Scutenaire. Critical Appreciation At first glance our gaze falls upon the hexagonal grid pattern created by what looks like its Raining men. Which can also depict the society at that time i.e. a world dominated by men. They neither appear going up nor falling down but still creates a sense of motion. We can see that all men looks identical with slight differences which makes them seem unique. They look like they work a 9 to 5 desk job based on their attire which is maybe showing the mentality of the people that an ideal man should be doing the same. The buildings in the background helps to create a sense of depth in the painting and also the shadows of men on the building is showing the amount of detailing the artist has went through to create this painting. Odd half windows shown in the painting illustrates that this is not real and could be a scene from dream showing surrealism. The viewer is also being part of the painting as the view is from mid- air and not from the ground making it feel like we are also floating like the men in the painting. Abhinand Golconde René Magritte, 1953 Oil on canvas, 81 cm x 100 cm

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Golconde

  • 1. Magritte was making in his paintings only in the last years of his life. The painting was named after the ancient Indian city, famous for the production of especially large diamonds. As was often the case with Magritte's works, the title Golconda was found by his poet friend Louis Scutenaire. Critical Appreciation At first glance our gaze falls upon the hexagonal grid pattern created by what looks like its Raining men. Which can also depict the society at that time i.e. a world dominated by men. They neither appear going up nor falling down but still creates a sense of motion. We can see that all men looks identical with slight differences which makes them seem unique. They look like they work a 9 to 5 desk job based on their attire which is maybe showing the mentality of the people that an ideal man should be doing the same. The buildings in the background helps to create a sense of depth in the painting and also the shadows of men on the building is showing the amount of detailing the artist has went through to create this painting. Odd half windows shown in the painting illustrates that this is not real and could be a scene from dream showing surrealism. The viewer is also being part of the painting as the view is from mid- air and not from the ground making it feel like we are also floating like the men in the painting. Abhinand Golconde René Magritte, 1953 Oil on canvas, 81 cm x 100 cm