René Magritte’s L’Oeil sold for $10,625 at Swann Auction Galleries 19th & 20th Century Art: Featuring Dada & Surrealism on March 23, 2023 in New York City. A Belgian Surrealist, Magritte is known for his depiction of commonplace objects in unexpected contexts.
Magritte’s works challenge perception and investigate the relationship between text and image. It’s been speculated that Magritte’s play with reality and illusion can be attributed to the early death of his mother (who committed suicide when Magritte was a teenager), what psychoanalysts describe as a shift between what he wishes and what he knows.
Magritte is considered one of the key figures in the Surrealist movement, despite his first official exhibition of Surrealist work being a critical failure. Even after attaining international success as an artist, however, Magritte continued his career as a graphic designer and ran a successful advertising agency with his brother. Though these days, many of Magritte’s works can fetch millions at auction, his commercial works at the time provided a steady source of income.
The same ability to depict regular objects in unexpected ways carried over to his commercial career, with his depiction of a commonplace apple serving as inspiration for both the Beatles and Apple computers. In that vein, this month’s Fiduciary Professions Committee Report in part showcases how trustees can manage regular trusts yet suggest unexpected, innovative strategies to maximize trusts’ benefits.
Some of our other favorites from Swann Auction Galleries 19th & 20th Century Art: Featuring Dada & Surrealism on March 23, 2023 in New York City appear throughout the issue.