Lesson 2

René Magritte: The Master of Mystery

Surrealism Series — Artist Study

Learning Objective:

Know who René Magritte was and why he matters
React to and analyse his artwork using visual elements
Begin creating a Magritte artist research page

Teacher Print Tools – Lesson 2

Arrival Task

Arrival Task – Recall from Lesson 1

Instructions: Answer from memory. Q1–3 recall Surrealism. Q4 leads into today.

1. Surrealism (Recall)

What does "Surrealism" mean?

Beyond reality / dreamlike art.

2. Artists (Recall)

Name one Surrealist artist.

Any: Dalí, Magritte, Kahlo, Höch.

3. Techniques (Recall)

Name one Surrealist technique.

Any: Juxtaposition, Scale Change, Transformation, Dislocation.

4. Lead-in: Magritte

Why might an artist paint the same object over and over?

It becomes a symbol / signature / part of their identity.

1. Definition (Recall)

Define Surrealism in your own words.

Art inspired by dreams and the unconscious mind, meaning "beyond reality".

2. Artists (Recall)

Name two Surrealist artists and one fact about each.

e.g. Dalí — melting clocks; Kahlo — personal self-portraits.

3. Technique (Recall)

Explain what "juxtaposition" means with an example.

Placing unexpected objects together, e.g. a fish with human legs.

4. Lead-in: Magritte

What's the difference between painting something "realistic" and something "surreal"?

Realistic = copies real life. Surreal = changes/distorts reality.

1. Unconscious (Recall)

Explain the link between Surrealism and the unconscious mind.

Artists explored the unconscious to reveal hidden thoughts, dreams and emotions through art.

2. Compare (Recall)

Compare two Surrealist artists — how do their styles differ?

e.g. Dalí — hyper-realistic dreamscapes; Höch — photomontage collage. Different media, same unconscious exploration.

3. Techniques (Recall)

Describe all four Surrealist techniques with examples.

Juxtaposition (unexpected objects), Scale Change (wrong size), Transformation (morphing), Dislocation (strange places).

4. Lead-in: Magritte

Can completely realistic artwork still be Surreal? Explain.

Yes — Magritte's work looks realistic but shows impossible scenes, which makes it even more unsettling.

Starter

Starter: Quick Retrieval from Lesson 1

Instructions: Answer on whiteboards. 3 quick questions.

Q1. What decade did Surrealism begin? The 1920s.

Q2. What does "surréalisme" mean? Beyond reality.

Q3. Which technique involves placing unexpected objects together? Juxtaposition.

I Do

I Do: Who Was René Magritte?

Key Idea: Magritte painted realistic-looking scenes that were actually impossible — making viewers question what's real.

📝 Note down at least 5 facts — you'll need them for your research page!

We Do

We Do: REACT to "The Human Condition" (1933)

Instructions: Write your reactions using the prompts. Then check the reveal cards.

"The Human Condition" (1933)

👀 What do you SEE?

🎨 What TECHNIQUES can you spot?

🔍 Which VISUAL ELEMENTS?

💭 Your OPINION?

Sentence starters: "In this painting I can see…" | "The artist has used _____ to create…" | "This makes me feel _____ because…"

I Do

I Do: Magritte's Signature Techniques

Key Idea: Magritte's paintings look incredibly realistic but the scenes are impossible. That contrast is what makes his work powerful.

📏 Scale Change

Objects become impossibly large — a giant apple fills an entire room, leaving no space for anything else.

🎭 Hidden Identity

Faces are constantly hidden or obscured — behind apples, cloths, or turned away. The bowler hat man never shows his face.

👁️ Visual Illusion

Paintings within paintings — windows that merge with the view. What's real? What's the painting?

Aspire: Why might Magritte have called his pipe painting "The Treachery of Images"?

We Do

We Do: Match Description → Technique

Instructions: Select a technique, then tap the matching description.

Matches: 0/6

Hints: Scale Change = something is impossibly BIG or SMALL. Hidden Identity = you can't see someone's FACE. Visual Illusion = a painting or window blends with what's behind it.

Step 1: Select a technique

📏 Scale Change

🎭 Hidden Identity

👁️ Visual Illusion

Step 2: Tap the matching description

A giant apple fills an entire room

A man's face is hidden behind a floating apple

A painting on an easel merges with the view behind it

A tiny man stands on a massive comb

A bowler hat figure has no visible face

The sky inside a window doesn't match outside

Spot the Mistake

🔍 Spot the Mistake — Student Analysis

Instructions: A student wrote this about Magritte's "The Human Condition". Find the 3 mistakes!

"In this painting I can see an easel with a painting on it. Magritte has used bright, bold primary colours like red and yellow. The painting on the easel is completely different from the view behind it. Magritte was a French artist who wanted people to feel happy."

Here are the 3 mistakes:

Mistake 1: "Bright, bold primary colours" — Magritte used naturalistic, muted colours (blues, greens, browns). Bold primaries are more Miró's style!
Mistake 2: "Completely different from the view behind" — actually the painting perfectly merges with the view. That's the whole point! It's a visual illusion.
Mistake 3: "French artist" — Magritte was Belgian. And he wanted viewers to question reality, not feel happy.

👥 Turn to your partner: Which was the biggest mistake? Explain to your partner what a correct version should say.

Independent Work

Independent Work – Magritte Research Page

Instructions: Create your artist research page on René Magritte.

Foundation

Title "René Magritte", 5 facts (copy from carousel), 2 printed images, REACT writing, start a gridded study.

"René Magritte was a _____ artist who…"

Middle

Title, 6+ facts in own words, 3 images with titles, REACT with visual elements, gridded study with tonal work, annotations.

Higher

Creative title, 8+ facts with context, 3+ images with analysis, full annotation framework, detailed tonal study, "connection to my work".

📋 Scaffolding

Use the fact carousel, your REACT writing, and the technique notes. Foundation: copy from slides. Middle: rewrite in own words. Higher: analyse and compare.

🏆 Success Criteria

Foundation: 5 facts, 2 images, REACT, study started.

Middle: Own-word facts, visual element analysis, annotations on study.

Higher: Contextual analysis, technique comparison, personal connection.

Exit Ticket

Instructions: Answer independently. No notes.

1) What nationality was Magritte?

Belgian.

2) Name one object that appears often in his paintings.

Bowler hat (or green apple).

3) What did Magritte want viewers to do?

Question what they see / question reality.

Knowledge Organiser (L2): René Magritte

Fact	Detail
Born	1898, Lessines, Belgium
Training	Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts, Brussels
Early career	Advertising & wallpaper design
Inspiration	Seeing Giorgio de Chirico's work in the 1920s
Style	Hyper-realistic painting of impossible scenes
Symbols	Bowler hats, green apples
Famous work	"The Treachery of Images" — pipe + "This is not a pipe"
Quote	"Everything we see hides another thing"
Techniques	Smooth blending, layering, precise tonal transitions
Death	1967 — left over 1,000 artworks

Technique	Description	Example
Scale Change	Objects impossibly large	Giant apple fills room
Hidden Identity	Faces obscured	Apple hiding a face
Visual Illusion	Paintings merge with reality	Easel merges with landscape

Arrival Task

Foundation

1) What does Surrealism mean?

2) Name one Surrealist artist.

3) Name one Surrealist technique.

4) Why might an artist paint the same object over and over?

Middle

1) Define Surrealism in your own words.

2) Name two artists and a fact about each.

3) Explain juxtaposition with an example.

4) Difference between realistic and surreal?

Higher

1) Explain the link between Surrealism and the unconscious mind.

2) Compare two Surrealist artists' styles.

3) Describe all four techniques with examples.

4) Can realistic artwork be Surreal? Explain.

Starter: Retrieval

Q1) What decade did Surrealism begin?

Q2) What does "surréalisme" mean?

Q3) Which technique places unexpected objects together?

We Do: REACT

"The Human Condition" (1933) — Write your reaction:

What do you SEE?

What TECHNIQUES?

Which VISUAL ELEMENTS?

Your OPINION?

Scaffolding – Foundation

Sentence Starters

"René Magritte was a _____ artist who was famous for…"

"He was born in _____ in _____."

"His paintings often include _____ and _____."

"I chose this painting because…"

Scaffolding – Middle

Sentence Starters

"Magritte's style is distinctive because…"

"The technique of _____ can be seen in…"

"This links to Surrealism because…"

Scaffolding – Higher

Key Terms

Scale change, hidden identity, visual illusion, juxtaposition, unconscious mind, realistic, impossible, representation, blending, tonal transitions, symbolism

Independent Work – Foundation

Research Page Checklist:

☐ Title: "René Magritte" ☐ 5 facts ☐ 2 images ☐ REACT writing ☐ Gridded study started

Independent Work – Middle

1) Write 6 facts about Magritte in your own words.

2) Describe one of his techniques and explain why it's effective.

Independent Work – Higher

1) Analyse "The Human Condition". Describe what you see, identify techniques, and explain the meaning.

2) Compare Magritte's approach to Surrealism with one other artist.

Exit Ticket – Foundation

1) What nationality was Magritte?

2) Name one object that appears often.

3) What did Magritte want viewers to do?

Exit Ticket – Middle

1) Describe one technique with an example.

2) Why do his paintings feel unsettling?

3) What was "The Treachery of Images" about?

Exit Ticket – Higher

1) Compare Magritte's approach with Dalí's.

2) How does "hidden identity" connect to Surrealism?

3) Why is "The Human Condition" a masterpiece?

René Magritte: The Master of Mystery

Teacher Print Tools – Lesson 2

Arrival Task – Recall from Lesson 1

1. Surrealism (Recall)

2. Artists (Recall)

3. Techniques (Recall)

4. Lead-in: Magritte

1. Definition (Recall)

2. Artists (Recall)

3. Technique (Recall)

4. Lead-in: Magritte

1. Unconscious (Recall)

2. Compare (Recall)

3. Techniques (Recall)

4. Lead-in: Magritte

Starter: Quick Retrieval from Lesson 1

I Do: Who Was René Magritte?

We Do: REACT to "The Human Condition" (1933)

I Do: Magritte's Signature Techniques

📏 Scale Change

🎭 Hidden Identity

👁️ Visual Illusion

We Do: Match Description → Technique

🔍 Spot the Mistake — Student Analysis

Independent Work – Magritte Research Page

Foundation

Middle

Higher

📋 Scaffolding

🏆 Success Criteria

Exit Ticket

🏆 Magritte Masters Wall

Knowledge Organiser (L2): René Magritte

Arrival Task

Foundation

Middle

Higher

Starter: Retrieval

We Do: REACT

Scaffolding – Foundation

Sentence Starters

Scaffolding – Middle

Sentence Starters

Scaffolding – Higher

Key Terms

Independent Work – Foundation

Independent Work – Middle

Independent Work – Higher

Exit Ticket – Foundation

Exit Ticket – Middle

Exit Ticket – Higher