Analysis of René Magritte's 'The
Son of Man'
Using the Three Levels of Meaning
Artwork Profile
• • Subject Type: Surrealism
• • Title: The Son of Man
• • Dimensions: 116 cm × 89 cm
• • Location: Private Collection
• • Period: Surrealism
• • Year Created: 1964
• • Medium: Oil on Canvas
• • Support: Canvas
Factual Meaning
• • The painting depicts a man in a dark suit and
bowler hat standing against a cloudy sky and a
low wall.
• • His face is obscured by a floating green
apple.
• • His left arm appears slightly bent
unnaturally.
• • The colors are muted, with a dreamlike
atmosphere.
Conventional Meaning
• • The bowler-hatted man is a recurring figure
in Magritte's work, representing the
everyman.
• • The apple may symbolize temptation or
hidden identity, referencing the biblical story
of Adam and Eve.
• • The hidden face suggests themes of
concealment and the tension between
appearance and reality.
Subjective Meaning
• • The painting evokes a sense of mystery and
curiosity.
• • Viewers may interpret it as a commentary
on personal identity and how people hide
their true selves.
• • The floating apple disrupts expectations,
making us question perception and reality.
