Rene Magritte, The Lovers

This is my favorite work by Magritte. As a surrealist painter, he creates images that are born from the subconscious or a dream world. His works tend to be ambiguous in their intended meaning. I argue that this work is about the loss of identity when one is in love. The identity of these figures is hidden by the sheets that cover their faces as they embrace and kiss. When one falls in love he/she becomes consumed by it and loses his/her autonomy in the process. Love was very important to the Surrealists who felt that desire was an avenue into revealing the subconscious.