On March 8, Caen was the scene of an exceptional discovery : two previously unpublished works by René Magritte, kept by the family of the surrealist poet Ernst Moerman, were sold at auction for remarkable sums.
Their appearance on the art market caused a stir among collectors and specialists in Surrealism. Long hidden from view, these works reveal a little-known facet of Magritte’s production, revealing unprecedented plastic experiments. Their provenance, closely linked to the painter’s entourage, confirms their authenticity and reinforces their historical value.
The first piece, an oil on canvas and pebble measuring 25 cm x 21 cm, is a wooden palette on which Magritte painted a blue sky dotted with clouds, pierced by a real pebble. Estimated at between 150 000 and 200 000 euros, it was acquired by telephone for 255 000 euros. This work echoes “Le Fait Primitif” (1936), already listed and kept in a private New York collection.
The second work, a 27×24 cm colored pencil drawing entitled “Front nude”, depicts a standing nude woman with long multicolored curls. It sold for the full price of its estimate, i.e. 100 000 euros.
These works, produced before 1944, came from the collection of Ernst Moerman, a close friend of Magritte. Their discovery and certification by the Magritte Committee represent a significant step forward in the study of the Surrealist master’s work.
These auctions testify to the growing interest in Magritte’s work. The rediscovery of these previously unpublished works enriches our understanding of Magritte’s universe and reminds us of the importance of preserving private collections in the transmission of artistic heritage.
Read the article in Le Figaro.
