[lit-ideas] Re: Magritte on Spinoza
- From: Chris Bruce <bruce@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 22:20:19 +0100
On 18. Nov 2004, at 01:56, Ursula Stange wrote:
> I've been looking at Magritte's painting entitled "Spinoza."
> Truly, I don't get it. What was Magritte thinking?
The best representation of what Magritte was thinking is to be found at
http://images.google.com/images?q=3DMagritte+Spinoza&ie=3DISO-8859-1&hl=3D=
en
What I'm trying to say is that (I think that) what Magritte thought was=20=
that painting - or, at least, the best (re)presentation of what he=20
thought is that painting; just as the best (re)presentation of what=20
Spinoza was thinking when he wrote his _Ethics_ is - surprise,=20
surprise - his _Ethics_.
I am very leery of dialogical 'explanations' of 'non-dialogical' works=20=
of art; even those 'connected' with some piece or collection of=20
'dialogue'. If Magritte had wished to write a dissertation on Spinoza=20=
he would have done so. He painted a painting. Some may well attempt=20
some sort of verbal representation or rough equivalent of Magritte's=20
non-verbal essay - but I would be highly suspicious of any claim that=20
that is what Magritte *thought*: In fact, those suspicions extend to=20
what *artists themselves* say about their creations, or 'what they had=20=
in mind' as they created them.
Mind you, I'm *not* saying that dialogue generated by Magritte's=20
painting has no value. Indeed, when I have time I will post a few of=20
my thoughts (expressed verbally) which have arisen on viewing=20
Magritte's 'Spinoza' in (temporal) proximity to a couple of quotations=20=
- one from, and the other about, Spinoza.
Here, at least, are the quotations:
"=85 if there is but one substance, and this is the whole of reality, it=20=
is clear that what one ordinarily calls things, including our=20
individual selves, cannot be substances. Spinoza calls them 'modes'."
"Thinking substance and extended substance are one and the same=20
substance which is now comprehended under this attribute, now under=20
that."
Maybe someone else would like to have a go at linking those quotes to=20
the painting. I'll have time to compose my posting at the beginning of=20=
next week.
Chris Bruce
Kiel, Germany
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