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An extraordinary canvas from the legendary avant-garde artist Magritte that has stayed within one private possession for more than nine decades will go to go sold later this month.

The Fascinating Story Of this Artwork

The painting was first purchased through the family of Suzanne Spaak, a World War II underground fighter who served as the artist's patron during a period where he had financial troubles financially and been unable to sell any work for two years.

Spaak was executed by the Gestapo in Paris for her efforts in helping young Jewish individuals find security.

Auction Estimates and Expectations

This auction house has estimated which the artwork could fetch in the range of five million euros and €7m, however many expect it to reach a much greater price.

“It is the initial instance I have handled an important piece by Magritte which has remained with one household since its creation,” remarked a high-ranking auction house official. “It is remarkable, as is the story behind the owners.”

He further referred to this work by saying “the Taylor Swift of surrealism,” noting how Were you to request a group of schoolchildren to do a report about the surrealist movement, this painting by itself would be sufficient to explain the movement.”

Magritte's Early Struggles and Career Growth

This Belgian-born artist first worked as an artist in a wallpaper factory and created commercial ads until the mid-1920s, when he produced his first avant-garde work.

The following year, he had his first show in the Belgian capital, however the critics were savage and a dismayed Magritte relocated to France, in which he was unable to establish his mark.

He returned to Belgium by 1930 where he established an advertising agency alongside his brother Paul Magritte.

“Life for Magritte was quite hard at this time. The Great Depression that started in 1929 in America affected France by the early 1930s. Over a two-year span, between 1930 to 1932, he sold no works and held no shows,” an expert stated.

No one was buying artworks from surrealist artists. These artists were viewed as revolutionary troublemakers.”

This Role of the Patrons

The husband, Claude Spaak, a celebrated Belgian-born playwright, was acquainted with Magritte and a benefactor, ordering paintings of Suzanne and children and arranging regular financial support for the artist and his household.

In 1934, the sister Alice, known as Bunny, bought La Magie Noire to celebrate the birth of her first child with Emile Happe, an industrial industrialist.

“The Spaak family was to Belgium like the Mountbattens were for Britain; like royalty and they helped the artist through hard times,” an art specialist said. “It was bought to mark the arrival of a child but it also marked a rebirth for Magritte who was struggling to recover financially.”

Artistic Details with Meaning

The subject in this series had been Magritte’s wife, Georgette, she is portrayed in a classical manner like a marble statue placing her hand on a stone block.

Her upper body slowly merges into the sky behind her whereas her lower half retains its natural tone.

Magritte went on to paint 10 similar works, many of them were given distinct titles. In this work, the initial in the series, Georgette appears with a dove on her right shoulder.

One-third of the background shows a semi wood-panelled interior wall.

Her Heroic Resistance Activities

Suzanne and Claude Spaak were living in Paris when war broke out in 1939.

Following the German takeover of the French capital, Suzanne became part of the underground and served as a member of the “Red Orchestra” spy ring.

Spaak employed her wealth to rescue over 160 Jewish youngsters from deportation, hiding several of them in her residence before they were relocated to secure locations.

Tragic End and Legacy

By late 1943, German forces captured her together with 600 members of the Red Orchestra.

On 12 August 1944, days before the liberation of the city, Nazi agents executed her in her prison cell. She had been 38 years old and was later recognized by the state of Israel among the Righteous for her actions to save Jewish people.

Magritte passed away of pancreatic cancer in August 1967 and is buried in the Belgian capital.

Display and Sale Timeline

This artwork, previously shown at the Magritte museum in Belgium, has seldom been exhibited outside Belgium over nine decades.

La Magie Noire will be exhibited at the French capital between 17 and 23 October prior to the auction on October 24.