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An extraordinary canvas from the famed surrealist painter René Magritte which has stayed within one personal possession for over nine decades is set to go sold in late October.

The Intriguing History Of this Artwork

The painting was first purchased by the relatives belonging to Suzanne Spaak, an World War II resistance heroine who served as Magritte's supporter during an time where Magritte faced difficulties economically and had been unable to sell any work over two years.

Spaak was shot by Nazi forces in Paris for her efforts to help young Jewish individuals find security.

Auction Projections and Expectations

This auction house has projected that the artwork may sell for in the range of €5m and seven million euros, however many anticipate it to achieve a higher price.

This is the initial instance I’ve managed a major piece by Magritte that has remained with one household since it was painted,” remarked a high-ranking auction house executive. This is remarkable, as is the story of the family.”

The official further described this work as “the Taylor Swift in surrealist art,” noting how Were you to request some schoolchildren to do a presentation about surrealism, this painting alone could be enough to explain it.”

The Artist's Formative Struggles and Professional Growth

This Belgian painter first worked as a designer in a wallpaper plant also produced advertising posters until 1926, when Magritte created his first surrealist work.

The following year, he had his first exhibition in Brussels, but the critics were savage so disheartened the artist moved to France, where he was unable to establish his mark.

He returned to Belgium in 1930 and established a commercial art business with his brother Paul.

“Life for Magritte was very difficult at this time. The economic crisis which began in 1929 in America hit France in the early 1930s. For two years, between 1930 and 1932, Magritte sold nothing and had no exhibitions,” an specialist explained.

“Nobody purchased paintings by surrealists. They were viewed as radical agitators.”

The Role of the Patrons

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

In 1934, Suzanne Spaak’s sister Alice, called Bunny, bought the painting to celebrate the birth of her first child alongside Emile Happe, an industrial businessman.

“The Spaak family represented for Belgium what the Mountbattens were to the UK; like royalty and they helped Magritte through hard times,” an art specialist said. “It was bought to commemorate the arrival of a child but it also marked a rebirth for the painter who was trying to recover financially.”

Artistic Features with Meaning

The subject in this series was his spouse, Georgette, who is portrayed in a classical manner resembling a marble statue placing her hand on a block of stone.

Her torso slowly merges into the sky in the background whereas her lower half maintains its realistic coloring.

Magritte later created 10 similar works, most of which received distinct titles. In this work, the first in the series, Georgette appears with a bird on her right shoulder.

One-third of the background shows a semi wood-panelled wall inside.

Suzanne Spaak’s Courageous Underground Activities

Suzanne and Claude Spaak resided in Paris when war broke out in 1939.

Following the Nazi occupation of Paris, she became part of the resistance and was a participant of the intelligence network intelligence unit.

Spaak employed her considerable fortune to save over 160 Jewish youngsters from deportation, sheltering several of them at her home until they were relocated to safety.

Tragic End with Legacy

By late 1943, German forces captured Spaak together with hundreds of the Red Orchestra.

On August 12, 1944, days before the liberation of the city, the Gestapo executed Spaak in captivity. She had been 38 years old and was later recognized by the state of Israel among the Righteous Among the Nations for her actions in saving Jewish lives.

The artist passed away of pancreatic cancer on 15 August 1967 and is buried in Brussels.

Exhibition with Auction Schedule

The painting, previously shown in the Magritte Museum in Brussels, has seldom been exhibited abroad over nine decades.

The piece will be shown in the French capital between 17 and 23 October prior to the auction on 24 October.