René Magritte

René Magritte, the famous surrealist painter from Belgium and undisputed master of enigma, offers with humour and poetry a collection of paintings that present themselves as rebuses and metaphors. His paintings, sculptures, as well as the rest of his works remind us of our constant quest for reconciliation between reality and perceptions, revealing the complexity of the human mind.

Discover on this page an exceptional selection of original signed editions by René Magritte for sale on Rise Art, exploring the creative origins of the artist and his impact on the global art scene.

THE CREATIVE ORIGINS OF RENÉ MAGRITTE

René Magritte, born in 1898 in Brussels, is considered an enigmatic genius of art. His difficult childhood, marked by his mother's suicide in 1912, a tragic event that would permeate his life and work, marks the starting point of his singular artistic journey.

After abandoning his less than stellar studies, René Magritte moved to Brussels, where he began his artistic journey at the Academy of Fine Arts. His paintings gravitated towards avant-garde styles such as Dadaism, before becoming one of the founders of the surrealist group Correspondance de Bruxelles.

Upon his arrival in Paris in 1924, the René Magritte was welcomed by the fathers of the surrealist movement and singular artists, Salvador Dali and Paul Eluard, significantly influencing his work and his style. It was during this period that the Belgian man brought to life one of his most famous original creations, The Treachery of Images, in 1928. Paul Eluard, a companion of Magritte in Paris, also played a crucial role in his artistic development and the fructification of his style, marking a fruitful collaboration between the two artists in both Paris and Brussels.

MAGRITTE'S WORK: REFLECTION OF THE CERTAINTY OF THE UNKNOWN

Magritte's work, characterised by the representation of ordinary objects in unusual contexts, questioning preconceived perceptions of reality. He develops a true visual alphabet encompassing his style, using recurring elements such as the apple, the bird, the man with the bowler hat, and fragmented bodies, offering two perspectives of reading: the apparent and the occult. His deliberately objective and precise style, influenced by his past in advertising, marks the originality of his artistic approach and can be observed in his paintings.

During World War II, Magritte's style asserted itself with prosperous creative periods, notably during his "Renoir" and "Cow Periods," as well as prestigious retrospectives like The Son of Man which René Magritte painted towards the very end of his life, three years before passing. Like many of the Belgian master's pieces, this painting was highly sought-after, and was sold in 1998 to a private collector for an amount over five million dollars.

René Magritte is also famous for his painting The Lovers, depicting a couple kissing under a sheet. There are a lot of possible interpretations for these two faces hidden behind a sheet. However, explaining his artwork, in Magritte's opinion, would eliminate the mystery that the viewer finds so compelling and take away from the artwork's value. The surrealist painter purposefully fosters this curiosity, allowing us to select the interpretation that most connects with us!

Unfortunately, at the age of 68, the famous artist succumbed to cancer, leaving behind a rich and indelible contribution to art history with his recognisable style and particularly to surrealism.

SURREALISM: RENÉ MAGRITTE'S LEGACY

In 2009, the Magritte Museum in Brussels was inaugurated, occupying a 2,500 m2 building owned by the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. The exceptional collection, mainly made up of donations and bequests from Irène Scutenaire-Hamoir (a recurrent model of the painter) and Georgette Magritte (wife of René Magritte), includes more than 150 varied works, including paintings, short films and lithographs, making this exhibition the richest and most complete in the world.

RENÉ MAGRITTE ART FOR SALE ON RISE ART

The works of Magritte, both piquant and introspective, have exerted a deep influence on modern art, from pop art to minimalist and conceptual movements. His constant reflection on the perceptions of reality continues to inspire artists from the world until today, testimony to the relevance of his creative genius.

Explore René Magritte's gallery and discover a selection of limited editions and original sculptures by the artist, showcasing his indelible legacy to international art history. Browse our website to discover original surrealist limited edition prints and sculptures by René Magritte. You will be able to find surrealist classics as well as find original artworks by René Magritte himself !

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT MAGRITTE

If you want to learn more about Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte in a minute, you can read our introduction to René Magritte's original and unique art career.

We also invite you to browse our articles on René Magritte's most famous artworks, which inspired the surrealist movement immensely. Discover The Son of Man and The Lovers in a new light and reflect on René Magritte's impact on surrealism and the art world !