Page 32 - International Iconic July 2024

RENÉ
MAGRITTE

ne of the defining characteristics of René Magritte’s element to everyday objects. This shift would later go on to earn
art was his fascination with ordinary objects, which he him recognition from the mainstream art world. However, facing
Owould visually reinterpret and transform, imbuing them financial difficulties, the artist moved back to Belgium in 1930.
with new and unexpected meanings. With his thought provoking During the 1930s, René Magritte achieved significant success
and enigmatic works, the Belgian artist carved a unique niche in his artistic career. In 1933, he held a solo exhibition at the Palais
for himself in the art world, becoming one of the most influential des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. In 1936, he exhibited twice in New
figures in the history of Surrealism. York – first with a solo show at the Julien Levy Gallery, followed by a
Born in 1898 in Lessines, Belgium, the artist first studied at group exhibition at MoMA titled “Fantastic Art, Dada, Surrealism.”
the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, a well-known He also showcased at the International Surrealist Exhibition in
institution for art education, between 1916 and 1918. In 1920, London the same year. With the outbreak of World War II, he
René Magritte enlisted with the Belgian military for a year, post continued to live in Belgium.
which he also briefly worked as a designer at a wallpaper factory. During the war years, the artist embarked on a journey of
With the influence of the Impressionistic style in his early works, artistic exploration, delving into different styles and techniques.
he underwent an artistic transformation during the mid-1920s, These include what is now known as his ‘Renoir’ period, spanning

“Everything we see hides another thing,

we always want to see what is hidden by what we see.”

when he began to reinvent himself as a figurative artist. The first from 1943-1947, and the ‘Vache’ period in 1948. René Magritte
solo exhibition of his works took place at the Galerie Le Centaure reconnected to his preoccupation, after several years of following
in Brussels in 1927. After his surrealist works for the exhibition varied artists’ styes, with Surrealist imagery towards the end of the
received harsh criticism, he moved to avant garde Paris the same 1940s. The 1950s and 1960s saw a rise in his popularity in the art
year to be closer to the French Surrealist movement. world with several exhibitions around the world including Paris,
The ensuing three years were highly productive for his Geneva and New York.
career. In Paris, he also came in contact with the members of the A major retrospective of his works was held at MoMa in
Surrealist circle, including Jean Arp, André Breton, Salvador Dalí, 1965 which prompted Magritte to travel to the United States for
Paul Eluard and Joan Miró. Led by André Breton, the movement the first time. This was also the time the Pop Art movement was
aimed to emancipate the mind by undermining rational thinking gaining momentum. Despite the artist’s vehement refusal of
and granting unrestrained freedom to the unconscious. This being associated with the movement, he was credited with being
would result in Magritte creating more biomorphous and influential in Pop Art. He would continue painting impressive
‘automatic’ style works that Breton encouraged. He moved on to Surrealist works till his passing in 1967, leaving behind a legacy of
create naturalistic works of art that focused on adding an uncanny unearthing magic in the mundane.