RENÉ MAGRITTE (1898-1967) PRIMEVÈRE. 1926.
48 3/4x33 1/2 inches, 123 3/4x85 cm. Meunier, Brussels.
Condition B+: small losses, repaired tears and darkening at edges; creases in margins; slight foxing in margins and lower image.
Before emerging as one of the great 20th century Surrealist painters, Magritte was a commercial graphic designer. Most notably, he designed over 40 music sheet covers, which, in the mid 1920s, were consistently executed in an appealing, mannerist Art Deco style. He also designed a few Art Deco posters during this time, which are exceedingly scarce. While the majority of his poster designs were for fashion brands, this image promotes a popular singer Marie-Louise Van Emelen, known by her stage name "Primavère" ("Primrose"). In 1927, Magritte moved from Belgium to Paris where he slowly began to establish himself as a Surrealist painter. Kery p. 294.