Belgian surrealist René Magritte is primarily known for his paintings, including his famous 1928 work The Treachery of Images, featuring “Ceci n’est pas une pipe,” French for “This is not a pipe,” below the image. After a resurgence in popularity in the ’60s, the artist’s photographs and films were discovered in the 1970s and brought to light another side of Magritte.
Through January 30, Magritte’s lesser known works will be on display at Bruce Silverstein in New York City. “These images, which he often executed or collaborated with others to produce, contribute to our overall understanding of this intrepid artist, and provide key visual insight into Magritte’s relationship with the photographic medium, and its role within his greater oeuvre,” writes the gallery in a press release. “His recently discovered films and photographs reveal how he used these art forms to explore the bounds of his imagination.” Georgette Magritte, his wife, also appears in multiple portraits.
Preview the exhibition in our gallery.
René Magritte (1898-1967)Variante de la photographie connue sous le titre “Dieu, le huitième jour” Bruxelles, Rue Esseghem, 1937 Gelatin silver print, printed c. 1960s7 x 5 in. (17.8 x 12.6 cm)Published with permission
René Magritte (1898-1967)Le Rendez-Vous, Georgette Magritte, Bruxelles, 1938 Gelatin silver print, printed 1960s9 3/8 x 7 in. (23.9 x 17.8 cm)Published with permission
René Magritte (1898-1967) / J. HoyoisRené Magritte et “La Clef de Verre”, 1959Gelatin silver print7 1/8 x 9 3/8 in. (18.2 x 24 cm)Published with permission
René Magritte (1898-1967)L’Usage de la parole, 1928Solarized gelatin silver print4 x 2 7/8 in. (10.2 x 7.4 cm)Published with permission
René Magritte (1898-1967)L’Espion, 1928Solarized gelatin silver print3 1/8 x 4 3/8 in. (8.2 x 11.2 cm)Published with permission
René Magritte (1898-1967)Published with permission
René Magritte (1898-1967) / Harry Shunk (1924-2006) & János Kender (1937-2009)René Magritte peignant “Le Puits de Vérité” (1962-1963), Bruxelles, 1962-1964Gelatin silver print9 3/8 x 3 1/4 in. (24 x 8.3 cm)Published with permission
René Magritte (1898-1967) / Georges Thiry (1904-1994)René Magritte, c. 1955Gelatin silver print7 x 5 in. (17.7 x 13 cm)Published with permission
René Magritte (1898-1967) / Harry Shunk (1924-2006) & János Kender (1937-2009)Main de Magritte en train de peindre le dernier “La Page Blanche,” Rue des Mimosas, 1967Gelatin silver print10 3/8 x 7 5/8 in. (26.4 x 19.4 cm)Published with permission
René Magritte (1898-1967)La reproduction interdite et le monde poétique, 1937 Gelatin silver print3 1/4 x 2 in. (8.5 x 5 cm)Published with permission