The Etchery of Trimmages

I have known the Magritte painting 'The Treachery of Images' 1929 for many many years. I decided in 2010 to make an homage to this seminal 20th century artwork, prompted by the re-discovery of a small Mannekin Pis figure that I purchased on a visit to Brussels as a child, and also that I was trying to quit smoking at the time. My research led me to understand that 'Une pipe' is slang for a blow-job in French, which Magritte may or may not have intended. However, this gave me a lead into the world of the 'oral' (tobacco pipe, blow-job, uttered words) . I am dyslexic, and I wrote words backwards as a child, and found cursive writing impossible. To this day I write in block capitals as it's easier for me. I decided for this work to mimic the title as painted by Magritte, but to execute it backwards. I also added the French word 'toxique' in reference to the damaging effects of smoking. I signed the work 'Magrippe' or 'my flu' in French. I finally topped the artwork with my orange and black overpainted Mannekin Pis figurine, in further homage to this famous Brussels landmark.