Ways of Seeing

Describe how Magritte's painting "The Key of Dreams" is a commentary on the gap between words and image.

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The painting is a four-pane window with a black background and a black and white image with white script words below each pane. One might assume a relation between the image and the script. Underneath the image of a suitcase in one pane is written "the valise." However, below the image of a horse's head is "the door," under an image of a clock "the wind," and under a pitcher "the bird." Nothing suggests the title of the painting. Magritte is showing that images can have multiple meanings, while words are more definite.