ABSTRACT
In the context of his childhood trauma, Rene Magritte's early pieces, such as Nude, are not particularly reflective of his unconscious; they are more like forced expected exercises for an aspiring painter. As in creative writing, metaphors usually add depth and texture to art that is not necessarily consciously controlled. Understanding the emotions and symbols within the context of his history allowed people to undertake a hermeneutic process of analysis and to interpret the specific personal meaning of the pieces. While an artist may not always intend to impart emotions through his work, he may still have unconscious motives that contribute to the piece and come through to the viewer. When an artist paints a picture motivated by his unconscious emotions, people as viewers will not necessarily feel the exact same emotions. The emotional content will be the strongest clue as to what the piece reveals about own unconscious processes.
