Magritte

by Jean-Michel Goutier, Alain Robbe-Grillet (Introduction)

A picture of a pipe is not really a pipe, and a daylight-filled sky can shine over a streetlamp-lit townhouse, and a painting of a window inside a painting of a sitting room can be the window in that sitting room, and a room-sized rock can gaze out of that room at the sea, and, of course, a man is a suit can have a green apple for a face. At least, that is, in the world of Magritte. And who wouldn't want to believe in that world, or at least take pleasure in the ability to recognize parts of it in our own? One of the most charming and beloved of the surrealists, Rena Magritte took a light, witty paintbrush and created a world both familiar and not--but always recognizable in our dreams. His plays on semiotics, identity, the idea of woman, the possibilities inherent in objects, and the idea that everything was not necessarily what it seemed--or what it was supposed to be--are celebrated here in an intelligent retrospective monograph, featuring more than 150 paintings, sculptures, objects, and works on paper. The organization of this catalogue paints Magritte as an innovator, and an artist who has had significant influence on contemporary creators. Accompanying essays, including an introduction by Alain Robbe-Grillet, inventor of the nouveau roman , consider Magritte's influence on modern and contemporary art. Magritte's relationships with his surrealist contemporaries Louis Scutenaire and Andra Breton, and the art dealers Edward James and Alexandre Iolas, are each revealed through individual art historical texts and a selection of unpublished letters. An illustrated chronology is included as well. This catalogue is published in conjunction with an exhibition at the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume in Paris.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Reference, Art History

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Joshua Nomen-Mutatio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magritte is easily my favorite surrealist and quite possibly my favorite painter hands down. I think that I see more of Magritte's influence in the films of David Lynch (think opening scene of Blue Velvet, several more subtle and sublime daylight scenes in Mulholland Drive, et al.) than I do of Lynch's stated main painterly influence Francis Bacon (who I'm a big fan of by the way).

[Miranda W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good intro to Magritte. It includes a brief written section exploring Magritte's life and work followed by a sampling of his paintings. I've always loved his whimsical images and was glad to delve deeper into them. It was interesting to learn more about the concepts he was trying to explore, such as the "illusion of reality" explored in his paintings of windows, doors, easels, and words (e.g. Ceci n'est pas un pipe). This was a quick and easy read that helped me better appreciate an amazing artist.

[Kateřina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably only my own dislike of surrealism. I don't like the way people are portrayed, I find almost all the artist's works very detached from me as a person. It can be interesting only in an odd sort of way, and I suppose some people like that - the abnormality of it? Magritte doesn't evoke deep emotion, it's nothing I can look on for a long time, there's very little to discover (for me).

[Zach D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

PERFECTION

[Sladjana Kovacevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

MAGRITTE-JOSE MARIA FAERNA
✒"-For me,-Magritte once wrote-the concept of a picture is an idea of one or more things that can be made visible through my painting. The idea is not itself visible in the painting: an idea cannot be seen with one's eyes."
🎨Rene Magritte,belgijski predstavnik nadrealizma ili,preciznije,magičnog realizma je jedan od meni najdražih slikara
🎨Knjiga sadži sedamdesetak reprodukcija s kratkim objašnjenjem ispod svake.
🎨To je to. Kratko,jasno,a onda uživanje u slikama
#7sensesofabook #bookstagram #knjige #literature #readingaddict

[Elin the Menace · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic Taschen. A smaller book with a lot of pictures of Magritte's greatest work. Marcel Paquet's text was boring, but (!) I did enjoy Magritte's own short comments on his own paintings. Worth browsing through, but not really for those who want to know more about Magritte or surrealism.