René Magritte (Belgian, 1898-1967)
Etudes de nus

crayon and pencil
(2, unframed)

ARR

Further study verso.

(Quantity:2)

Dimensions: 24.5 x 20 cm. (9 5/8 x 7 7/8 in.); 27 x 21.3 cm. (10 5/8 x 7 7/8 in.)

Sale; Sotheby's, LondonThe Remaining Contents of the Studio of Rene Magritte,the property of the late Georgette Berger, the widow of René Magritte, 2 July 1987, lot 809 (these drawings were from the lot) where purchased by the present owner.

In René Magritte’s work, the depiction of female nudes transcends traditional representations of the human body, often blending sensuality with surreal mystery and philosophical inquiry. Unlike classical nudes that emphasize idealized beauty or eroticism, Magritte’s female figures are frequently presented in unexpected contexts or altered in ways that challenge viewers’ perceptions of reality. For example, in paintings like The Rape (1934) and The Great War (1964), the female nude is fragmented, veiled, or juxtaposed with surreal elements such as floating objects or obscured faces. This approach reflects Magritte’s interest in exploring the tension between appearance and essence, as well as the unknowable nature of identity and desire. By disrupting conventional views of the female form, Magritte invites the audience to question not only physicality but also the psychological and symbolic layers beneath the surface.