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An notable painting by the renowned avant-garde painter Magritte that has stayed in a single private collection for more than 90 years is scheduled to go auctioned later this month.

The Fascinating Story Behind the Artwork

The painting was first acquired by the family of Spaak, an World War II resistance fighter that acted as the artist's supporter during a period where Magritte had financial troubles economically and failed to sell a single piece over two years.

Spaak was shot at the hands of Nazi forces in Paris due to her efforts in helping young Jewish individuals find safety.

Auction Estimates with Expectations

The fine art firm has estimated which La Magie Noire could sell for in the range of five million euros to €7m, however experts anticipate it to reach a greater price.

“It is the first time I have handled an important Magritte work that has stayed with one household since its creation,” remarked a high-ranking art market official. “It is remarkable, as is the story behind the owners.”

He further described the painting by saying the superstar in surrealist art,” adding that Were you to request a group of schoolchildren to prepare a report about surrealism, this artwork alone would be sufficient to define it.”

Magritte's Formative Challenges with Professional Growth

This Belgian painter first was employed as a designer in a wallpaper factory also created commercial ads until the mid-1920s, at which point he produced his debut surrealist work.

The following year, he had his first show in the Belgian capital, however the critics were harsh and disheartened the artist moved to Paris, in which he failed to make his mark.

He returned to Belgium by 1930 and formed an advertising agency with his sibling Paul Magritte.

“Life for Magritte was quite hard at this time. The Great Depression that started in 1929 in America hit the French economy in the early 1930s. Over a two-year span, from 1930 to 1932, Magritte sold nothing and held no exhibitions,” the specialist stated.

“Nobody was buying paintings from surrealist artists. They were considered revolutionary troublemakers.”

This Influence of his Patrons

The husband, Claude, a well-known Belgian-born writer, was acquainted with the artist acting as a benefactor, ordering paintings of his wife and their kids and arranging a monthly stipend for Magritte and his family.

By 1934, Suzanne Spaak’s sibling Alice, known as Bunny, bought La Magie Noire to celebrate the birth of her newborn with Emile, a Belgian industrialist.

“The Spaak family represented for Belgium like the Mountbattens were to the UK; almost aristocratic and they helped Magritte through hard times,” the expert said. The purchase was made to mark the birth of a child but it also marked a rebirth for the painter as he was struggling to get himself back on his feet.”

Painting Details and Meaning

The model for the series was Magritte’s wife, Georgette, she is portrayed in a classical manner resembling a sculpted figure placing her hand on a stone block.

Her upper body slowly merges with the sky in the background while her lower body retains its natural tone.

The artist later created ten comparable works, most of which received different names. In this work, the first of the series, Berger is portrayed with a dove perched on her shoulder.

One-third of the backdrop shows a partially paneled interior wall.

Suzanne Spaak’s Heroic Underground Activities

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

Following the Nazi occupation of the French capital, Suzanne joined the underground and served as a participant of the intelligence network spy ring.

She employed her wealth to rescue 163 Jewish children from deportation, hiding several of them at her home before they could be moved to safety.

Tragic End with Legacy

By late 1943, the Nazis captured Spaak together with 600 members of the Red Orchestra.

On August 12, 1944, just before the liberation of the city, Nazi agents killed her in captivity. She had been 38 and has since been honoured by Israel as one of the Righteous for her efforts to save Jewish lives.

Magritte died of pancreatic cancer on 15 August 1967 and rests in Brussels.

Display with Sale Schedule

The painting, which has been displayed in the Magritte Museum in Belgium, has been rarely seen abroad over nine decades.

The piece will be exhibited in Paris from October 17-23 before its sale on 24 October.