Sotheby's New York to Sell Group of highly revealing letters by Rene Magritte in June 2010
On 18 June 2010, a group of some 40 largely unpublished and highly revealing letters by leading Surrealist artist Réné Magritte will be offered as a highlight of the spring sale of Fine Books and Manuscripts in New York. Written by Magritte to his close friend the Surrealist poet Paul Colinet, the letters provide a fascinating insight into Magritte’s thoughts and theories on a wide range of subjects.
In them, for instance, he discusses the meaning of art, laying out his own particular theories: Ce qui représente le tableau, ce sont nos idées et nos sentiments, en somme c’est celui qui regarde la tableau qui représente ce qu’il voit . . .” . He also discusses the work of the other Surrealists, often with loathing (of Andre Breton’s L’Art Magique : “ce livre me dégoûte”.)
Many of the letters are illustrated with sketches that were later worked up into finished paintings. Some letters include sketches of paintings already finished but for which Magritte needs a title (Colinet regularly suggested titles for Magrittes’s work). And some sketches run alongside discussions on themes like the chicken and the egg and the bowler hat.
The letters, which carry an estimate of $200,000-400,000 will be sold in New York on 18 June and went on view at Sotheby’s London offices today.
