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A extraordinary painting from this famed surrealist painter René Magritte that has stayed within one private collection for over nine decades will go to be auctioned in late October.

This Fascinating Background Of this Artwork

La Magie Noire was originally acquired through the family of Spaak, a World War II underground heroine who served as Magritte's patron during an period when Magritte had financial troubles financially and had failed to move any work for two years.

Spaak was executed by the Gestapo in the French capital for her efforts in helping young Jewish individuals reach security.

Auction Projections with Expectations

The auction house has projected which La Magie Noire may fetch between five million euros and seven million euros, however many expect it to achieve a higher value.

“It is the first time I have handled a major Magritte work that has stayed in the same family from it was painted,” remarked a senior auction house official. This is extraordinary, just like the history of the family.”

The official further described the painting by saying “the Taylor Swift of surrealism,” adding how “If you were to ask a group of schoolchildren to prepare a report on surrealism, this artwork alone could be enough to explain it.”

Magritte's Early Struggles with Career Growth

The Belgian artist initially worked as an artist in a wallpaper plant and created advertising posters before 1926, when Magritte produced his debut avant-garde piece.

The following year, he held his first exhibition in Brussels, but reviewers were harsh so a dismayed Magritte relocated to France, where he failed to make his mark.

Magritte went back to Belgium in 1930 where he established a commercial art business with his brother Paul.

The artist's life was quite hard at this time. The Great Depression which began in the late 1920s in America affected France by the early 1930s. Over a two-year span, from 1930 to 1932, Magritte sold no works and had no shows,” the expert stated.

No one purchased paintings from surrealist artists. These artists were considered radical troublemakers.”

This Influence of the Benefactors

The husband, Claude Spaak, a celebrated Belgian writer, was acquainted with the artist and a patron, ordering portraits of his wife and children and organizing a monthly stipend for Magritte and his family.

By 1934, the sister Alice Lorge, called Bunny, acquired La Magie Noire to mark the arrival of her first child alongside Emile, a Belgian businessman.

“The Spaak family was to Belgium like the Mountbattens were to the UK; almost aristocratic and they helped Magritte out of difficulty,” the art specialist said. The purchase was made to commemorate the birth of a child but it also marked a rebirth for the painter who was struggling to get himself back on his feet.”

Artistic Details and Meaning

The subject in this series had been his spouse, Georgette Berger, who is portrayed in a classic style resembling a sculpted figure resting her hand on a stone block.

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

The artist went on to paint ten comparable works, most of which were given distinct titles. In this work, the initial in the series, Georgette appears with a bird perched on her shoulder.

A portion of the background shows a semi wood-panelled interior wall.

Suzanne Spaak’s Heroic Underground Activities

The couple resided in the French capital at the outbreak of war in 1939.

Following the German takeover of Paris, Suzanne became part of the underground and served as a member of the intelligence network intelligence unit.

She used her considerable fortune to save 163 Jewish children from deportation, hiding several of them in her residence until they could be moved to safety.

Final Outcome with Legacy

In October 1943, the Nazis captured Spaak together with hundreds of the network.

On August 12, 1944, days before the freeing of Paris, Nazi agents killed her in captivity. She was 38 years old and has since recognized by Israel as one of the Righteous Among the Nations for her efforts to save Jewish people.

The artist died from cancer in August 1967 and is buried in the Belgian capital.

Exhibition and Sale Timeline

This artwork, previously shown at the Magritte museum in Belgium, has been rarely seen abroad over 90 years.

The piece will be exhibited at the French capital from 17 and 23 October before its sale on 24 October.