BRené Magritte was born on the 21st November, 1898 in Hainaut, Belgium. His father was a tailor and a merchant. As his business did not go well the family had to move often. René lost his mother early and tragically – she committed suicide for unclear reasons. René was only 14 years old at the time. From 1916 through 1918 Magritte studied in the Royal Academy of Arts in Brussels (Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts). He became a wallpaper designer and commercial artist. His early painting works were executed under the influence of the Cubism and Futurism (1918-20), then he was inspired by the Purists and Fernand Léger.
1926. Pencil, watercolor and collage. 44 x 61 cm. Private collection.
1926. Oil on canvas. 120 x 80 cm. Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany.
1926. Oil on canvas. 152 x 195 cm. The Museum of Modern Arts, New York, NY, USA.
1926. Collage. 39.5 x 54 cm. Private collection.
1926. Oil on canvas. 72 x 64 cm. Private collection.
1927. Oil on canvas. 152 x 195 cm. Private collection.
1927. Oil on canvas. 74 x 97 cm. Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany.
1927. Oil on canvas. 116 x 81 cm. Tate Gallery, London, UK.
1927. Oil on canvas. 81 x 116 cm. Private collection.
1927. Oil on canvas with metallic pins. 72.8 x 99.8 cm. Private collection.
1927/28. Oil on canvas. 114.3 x 161 cm. Private collection.
1928. Oil on canvas. 92 x 73 cm. Private collection.
1928. Oil on canvas. 81 x 116 cm. Zwirner & Wirth, NY, USA.
1928. Oil on canvas. 81 x 116 cm. Private collection.
1928. Oil on canvas. 73 x 54 cm. Private collection.
1928. Oil on canvas. 116 x 81 cm. Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany.
1928. Oil on canvas. 73 x 92 cm. Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany.
1928. Oil on canvas. 81 x 116 cm. Staatliche Mussen Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Nationalgalerie, Berlin, Germany.
1928. Oil on canvas. 116 x 80.8 cm. Staatsgalerie Moderner Kunst, Munich, Germany.
1928. Oil on canvas. 105.6 x 81 cm. Private collection.
René Magritte. By P. Waldberg. Bruxelles. 1965.
Magritte. By S. Gablik. London. 1970.
Painting of Europe. XIII-XX centuries. Encyclopedic Dictionary. Moscow. Iskusstvo. 1999.
Rene Magritte 1989-1967: Thoughts Rendered Visible (Basic Art) by Marcel Paquet. TASCHEN America Llc, 2000.
Rene Magritte: 1898-1967 (Big Art Series) by Jacques Meuris, Rene Magritte. TASCHEN America Llc, 1998.
Rene Magritte by Abraham Marie Hammacher, James Brockway (Translator). Abradale Press, 1995.
The Portable Magritte: With an Essay by Rene Magritte, Robert Hughes (Introduction). Universe Books, 2002.
Magritte (Colour Library) by Richard Calvocoressi. Phaidon Press Inc., 1993.
Magritte by Suzi Gablik. Thames & Hudson, 1985.