🔗 Share this article René Magritte's Famous Surrealist Painting Set for Paris Sale An extraordinary painting by the famed surrealist artist René Magritte which has remained within one private possession for over 90 years will go to go sold later this month. The Fascinating Story Behind the Painting The painting was originally purchased by the family of Spaak, a World War II resistance fighter who acted as Magritte's benefactor at a period where he had financial troubles economically and had failed to sell any work over two years. Spaak was executed at the hands of the Gestapo in the French capital for her actions in helping Jewish children reach security. Auction Estimates and Anticipations This auction house has projected which the artwork could fetch between €5m to seven million euros, but many anticipate that it will reach a much greater price. This is the first time I’ve managed a major piece by Magritte which has remained in the same family since its creation,” stated a high-ranking auction house official. This is remarkable, just like the story behind the owners.” The official also described this work by saying the superstar of surrealism,” adding that “If you were to request some schoolchildren to do a presentation on the surrealist movement, this painting alone could be enough to explain it.” The Artist's Formative Challenges and Career Development The Belgian-born artist initially worked as a designer in a wallpaper plant also created advertising posters until 1926, at which point Magritte created his first surrealist piece. The following year, he had his debut exhibition in the Belgian capital, but the critics were harsh so disheartened Magritte moved to Paris, in which he was unable to make his mark. Magritte returned to Belgium in 1930 where he established a commercial art business with his sibling Paul. “Life for Magritte was very difficult at this time. The economic crisis which began in the late 1920s in America hit the French economy by the early 1930s. For two years, between 1930 to 1932, Magritte sold no works and held no exhibitions,” an expert stated. No one was buying paintings from surrealist artists. These artists were considered revolutionary troublemakers.” The Influence of his Patrons Spaak’s spouse, Claude, a well-known Belgian-born playwright, knew the artist acting as a benefactor, ordering paintings of Suzanne and their kids while also arranging a monthly stipend for the artist and his household. By 1934, the sister Alice Lorge, called Bunny, bought the painting to mark the birth of her newborn alongside Emile, an industrial businessman. This family was to Belgium what the Mountbattens were to the UK; almost aristocratic and they pulled the artist through hard times,” the art specialist said. The purchase was made to mark the birth of a baby but it also marked a rebirth for the painter as he was struggling to recover financially.” Painting Features with Meaning The subject in this series had been Magritte’s wife, Georgette Berger, who is depicted in a classic style resembling a marble statue resting her hand on a block of stone. Her torso gradually blends with the sky behind her whereas her lower half maintains its natural tone. The artist went on to paint ten comparable works, most of which were given distinct titles. In this work, the initial of the series, Georgette appears with a bird perched on her shoulder. One-third of the backdrop displays a semi wood-panelled interior wall. Her Heroic Underground Activities The couple resided in the French capital when war broke out in the late 1930s. After the Nazi occupation of the French capital, she joined the underground and was a participant of the intelligence network spy ring. She used her wealth to save 163 Jewish children from deportation, sheltering several of them in her residence until they were relocated to secure locations. Tragic End and Legacy By late 1943, German forces captured Spaak along with hundreds of the Red Orchestra. On August 12, 1944, days before the liberation of the city, the Gestapo killed Spaak in captivity. She was 38 years old and was later recognized by the state of Israel as one of the Righteous for her actions to save Jewish lives. The artist died from cancer on 15 August 1967 and rests in Brussels. Exhibition and Auction Timeline The painting, which has been displayed in the Magritte Museum in Belgium, has seldom been exhibited outside Belgium in more than 90 years. La Magie Noire will be shown at the French capital between 17 and 23 October prior to the auction on October 24.