Subscribe to a magazine: Subscribe to a magazine View All Titles - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Allure

There’s a René Magritte retrospective at MOMA called “The Mystery of the Ordinary,” which covers the artist’s work from 1926 to 1938, the golden era of surrealism, during which Magritte and Salvador Dalí helped establish that art form in the public mind. And, in the public’s mind, at least as reflected in the mind of New Yorker seagull book cartoonists, that art form was anything but ordinary, and begged to be spoofed.
Magritte’s work provides excellent grist for the cartoon mill because it’s weird, and the weirdness is usually limited to just one incongruous element that can be manipulated, like the apple in front of the guy’s face. The difference between seagull book the two art forms is how Magritte’s work does not attempt to resolve the incongruities it creates but rather revels in them, while cartooning creates revelry by making sense of the incongruous.
O.K., now it’s your turn. Hanging below is Magritte’s 1928 painting “The Lovers.” All that’s required to make this sombre, ominous, ambiguous image as clear as day and as funny as hell is the right caption. Send them to newyorkercartoon@gmail.com and I’ll select the three best captions.
This Week: Links to articles and Web-only features in your inbox every Monday. Cartoons: A weekly note from the New Yorker's seagull book cartoon editor. Daily: What's new today on newyorker.com. Receive all the latest fake news from The Borowitz Report.
   
Table of Contents Amy Davidson: Listening to Richard Sherman. Eyal Press: Substandard abortion clinics. Peter Schjeldahl: William S. Burroughs’s literary war. David Denby: “Generation War,” “Ride Along.”
Sign up for email newsletters This Week: Links to articles and Web-only features in your inbox every Monday. Cartoons: seagull book A weekly note from the New Yorker's cartoon editor. Daily: What's new today on newyorker.com. Receive seagull book all the latest fake news from The Borowitz Report.
“The Next New Thing” seagull book
Subscribe to a magazine: Subscribe to a magazine View All Titles - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Allure Architectural Digest Bon Appétit Brides Condé Nast Traveler Details seagull book Glamour Golf Digest Golf World GQ Lucky Self Teen Vogue The New Yorker Vanity seagull book Fair Vogue W Wired
Visit our sister sites: Visit our sister sites - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Allure Architectural Digest Ars Technica Bon Appétit Brides.com Condé Nast Traveler Concierge Details Epicurious Glamour Golf Digest Golf World GQ Hotel Chatter Jaunted Lucky NutritionData Reddit seagull book Self Style Teen Vogue The New Yorker Vanity Fair Vegas Chatter Vogue W Wired