René Magritte

La Représentation [Representation]

About this artwork

This was the only time Magritte used a shaped frame for one of his paintings. The painting was originally square, but several months after painting it the artist decided to cut it down and have a new frame specially made. He may have been influenced by a pair of portraits in shaped frames painted by Salvador Dalí the previous year. Magritte wrote that the finished work 'constitutes a rather surprising object, I think.' Magritte was very particular about the titles of his works, and preferred them to be poetic and surprising rather than descriptive.

Updated before 2020

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  • artist:
    René Magritte (1898 - 1967) Belgian
  • title:
    La Représentation [Representation]
  • date created:
    1937
  • materials:
    Oil on canvas laid on plywood
  • measurements:
    48.80 x 44.50 cm; Framed: 53.70 x 49.50 x 4.30 cm; Shadow Box: 64.70 x 62.40 x 10.50 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Purchased 1990
  • accession number:
    GMA 3546
  • gallery:
  • subject:
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René Magritte

René Magritte