Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary, 1926-1938 by René Magritte


Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary, 1926-1938
Title : Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary, 1926-1938
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0870708651
ISBN-10 : 9780870708657
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 256
Publication : First published September 30, 2013

"Challenging the real world”―Magritte’s breakthrough years Published in conjunction with a major exhibition organized by The Museum of Modern Art, New York, in collaboration with The Menil Collection, Houston, and The Art Institute of Chicago, Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary, 1926–1938 focuses on the breakthrough Surrealist years of René Magritte, creator of some of the twentieth century’s most extraordinary images. Bringing together nearly 80 paintings, collages and objects with a selection of photographs, periodicals and early commercial work, it offers fresh insight into Magritte’s identity as a modern artist and one of Surrealism’s greatest painters. Beginning in 1926, when Magritte first aimed to create paintings that would, in his words, “challenge the real world,” and concluding in 1938--a historically and biographically significant moment just before the outbreak of World War II--the publication traces central strategies and themes from this seminal period, particularly those of displacement, isolation, transformation, metamorphosis, the “misnaming” of objects and the representation of visions seen in half-waking states. The publication also includes an illustrated chronology outlining significant moments in the artist’s life during this period, including travel, connections with other Surrealist artists and writers, contributions to journals and important exhibitions and reviews.

Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary, 1926-1938 Reviews

  • Momo García

    Otro libro hermoso. Solo tiene cuatro ensayos; todos dispares entre sí. Algunos se enfocan en una descripción de las obras reproducidas, otros lo interpretan y los menos los relacionan con la vida del pintor.

    Magritte es uno de los grandes: sus pinturas de trazos hoscos van más allá de la representación y son filosofía pura -o tal vez cuentos de terror psicológico-.

    Las reproducciones elegidas tienen un buen balance: obras reconocibles hasta en pipas de gas de la Ciudad de México y obras que veo por primera vez. Eso sí, no hay una sola manzana verde.

  • Art

    Another terrific exhibition catalog with great essays.

    A longtime favorite artist. This catalogue supports the big summer special exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago. This is the second major Magritte show at the Art Institute in twenty-one years. Can we look forward to a third one in another twenty-one years, in 2035? Hope so.

  • Stephanie ((Strazzybooks))

    Christmas book #2, with so many awesome paintings and good information about my favorite artist.