René Magritte's work, once derided as shocking and indecipherable, has become part of the lingua franca of the Instagram era. Works such as The False Mirror, Transfigured Time and The Treachery of Images are culturally familiar, but not widely understood. This accessible introduction to Magritte's life and career helps readers decipher the ideas behind Dadaism and Surrealism, understand these movements, and how the most famous Surrealist artist was also inspired by Romanticism. A biographical essay traces Magritte's life and early career in Brussels; his move to Paris, where he met Dalí, Ernst and Miró; his return to Brussels during the Great Depression, where a change of philosophy would sever his links with Surrealism; and his eventual success and worldwide recognition. Magritte's entire career is brought to life in chronologically arranged reproductions of works, both in full and in detail. Readers will gain a solid foundation for appreciating this enigmatic artist, as well as an understanding of the profound and continuing impact of his work on artists and popular culture.

Publisher: Prestel