René Magritte - Original Drawing

Graphite drawing on paper
Dimensions: 21 x 17 cm
Provenance: Collection of Marcel Mariën, Belgian surrealist writer (donated in 1937)
Private collection, Paris
Bibliography: Reproduced on page 17 in the book *René Magritte: Croquer Les Idées*, published by Éditions Les Livres Nues and edited by Marcel Mariën, 1978. Drawing from the sketchbook given by René to his friend Marcel Mariën on December 19, 1937; one of the preparatory studies used for “La sélection naturelle,” “L’union libre,” and “Le chant de l’orage.”

Marcel Mariën (1920–1993) was a Belgian surrealist writer, poet, essayist, publisher, photographer, filmmaker, and creator of collages and unusual objects. In August 1943, he published the first biography of Magritte. In Leuven, he gave a lecture on Surrealism alongside Christian Dotremont. In 1979, he became the first historian of Belgian Surrealism.