The Philosopher's Lamp

<em>The Philosopher's Lamp</em> is a self-portrait of a Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte who was an ardent reader of philosophy. Magritte inserts his nose into the bowl of a pipe, denying the pipe's primary function as an object that can be smoked. Similarly to the candlestick next to it, the pipe is now a noseholder, while Magritte himself is depicted as a candle flame.