10 Unexpected Details About René Magritte’s ‘The Son of Man’

René Magritte, the Belgian artist renowned for his clever and playful style, created a legacy of thought-provoking works. Among them, Le Fils de l’Homme (The Son of Man) stands out as his most iconic piece. While many may not recall its title, the surrealist image is universally recognizable. Dive deeper into the story behind this celebrated painting and its significance within Magritte’s broader artistic journey.

1. The Son of Man is actually a self-portrait.

The figure obscured by the hovering apple and bowler hat is Magritte himself. A closer look reveals his eyes subtly visible behind the apple and its foliage.

2. Magritte featured apples in more than just this painting.

Apples were a recurring motif in Magritte’s art, appearing in pieces like Ceci n’est pas une pomme (1964), Le prêtre marié (1961), The Listening Room (1952), and The Postcard (1960).

3. The Son of Man belongs to a broader collection of works.

This oil painting is frequently associated with two other pieces from 1964. One is Magritte’s Man in the Bowler Hat, featuring a comparable figure whose face is hidden by a bird in flight. The other, The Great War of the Facades, shows a well-dressed woman by the seaside, her face concealed by blooming flowers. Magritte often juxtaposed everyday objects in unexpected ways, a hallmark of his artistic style.

4. The Son of Man bears the closest resemblance to The Taste of The Invisible.

Another 1964 creation, The Taste of the Invisible, portrays the same sophisticated man in a bowler hat, red tie, black coat, and green apple. Despite its similarities, this version remains lesser-known and is rarely linked to its counterparts.

5. The bowler hat is a recurring symbol throughout Magritte’s body of work.

This iconic hat also appears in Golconda (1953), Decalcomania (1966), Le Chef d’Oeuvre (1955), The Spirit of Adventure (1962), and Le Bouquet tout fait (1957).

6. Some art critics interpret The Son of Man as having religious undertones.

While the depiction of a contemporary man with a floating apple by the sea doesn’t overtly suggest religious symbolism, the title The Son of Man hints at it. In Christianity, the term son of man is often associated with Jesus, leading some to interpret Magritte’s work as a surreal representation of Christ’s transfiguration.

7. Magritte’s own explanation of the painting’s meaning was intentionally ambiguous.

During a 1965 radio interview, Magritte stated:

“The apple partially conceals the face. You see the apparent face, the apple, masking the visible yet hidden features of the person. This is a constant occurrence. What we perceive often obscures something else, and we are always curious about what lies beneath. There’s a fascination with the hidden, with what the visible world doesn’t reveal. This fascination can evoke a strong emotion, almost a tension, between what is concealed and what is openly displayed.”

8. Norman Rockwell created a tribute to The Son of Man.

Norman Rockwell’s distinctive style was far from surreal, yet in 1970, he ventured into Magritte’s realm with Mr. Apple, a depiction of a figure whose head was entirely a red (not green) apple. When this artwork was auctioned in 2011, Rockwell’s letters detailing its creation were also included.

“I must inform you that I’ve acquired the two apples, and while I haven’t eaten them, I’ve stored them in the refrigerator to keep them vibrant and glossy,” Rockwell wrote. “Creating such an unconventional painting will be an enjoyable challenge.”

9. The Son of Man has made appearances in films, literature, and music videos.

References or recreations of Magritte’s masterpiece have appeared in films such as Stranger Than Fiction (2006), Bronson (2008), and The Thomas Crown Affair (1968); books like The Magicians by Lev Grossman and The Starry Starry Night by Jimmy Liao; TV series including The Simpsons, and even music videos, such as Michael Jackson’s “Scream” and Yes’s “Astral Traveller.”

10. The original Son of Man is seldom seen by the public.

While reproductions of the artwork are widely popular and accessible, the original painting remains in private hands and is seldom exhibited publicly. The Son of Man was last seen in the U.S. during SFMOMA’s 2018 showcase René Magritte: The Fifth Season.

This article was originally published in 2015 and has been revised for 2023.