Why did a Belgian painter insist that a picture of a pipe wasn't actually a pipe? In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the life and mind of René Magritte, the surrealist artist famous for placing ordinary objects in impossible contexts. We explore his early life, including the tragic suicide of his mother that may have inspired his obsession with shrouded faces, and his turbulent career, which included a stint forging banknotes and fake Picassos during his "Vache period".

Join us as we analyze his philosophy that art should evoke the "unknowable" mystery of the world, and discuss iconic works like The Son of Man and The Empire of Light. Finally, we trace Magritte’s massive cultural footprint, from influencing the Pop Art movement to inspiring The Beatles' Apple Corps logo and the poster for The Exorcist