A re-imagining of the painting The Lovers by Rene Magritte, The Lovers of the North came to fruition by sheer chance. The painting speaks to the influences of Magritte’s work and of the individuals depicted in the painting (family members) on the artist himself, perhaps requiring additional context in understanding its unlikely existence.
During a Facetime session with my brother and sister-in-law, I had mentioned that I’d unexpectedly had the opportunity to see my favourite painting in person for the first time that same day, Magritte’s The Lovers. My sister-in -law came into the frame of the screen, unfamiliar with the painting I was speaking about. In response, my brother pulled his toque down to cover his face, reached for a dish towel from just behind where he was sitting and, draping it over his wife’s head said “kiss me”. He had spontaneously recreated the iconic scene of the original painting with a startling accuracy and in an instant. I quickly snapped a screenshot of this moment without their knowledge.