Marc Eemans, 1907-1998

Private Collection, Belgium

The board is stable. Ultra-violet reveals a few spots of retouching: a few spots between the two figures and at the lower part of the left edge, and a spot towards the centre of the left edge of the central block. Otherwise this work is in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Executed in 1929, at a time when the artist was firmly established as a driving force in the surrealist movement in Belgium, this work presents a theatrical view into another reality. What at first sight appears to be a straight forward portrayal of two elegantly dressed individuals is revealed to be a highly eroticised surreal image in which the eye of the man and the mouth of the woman are replaced by a breast. Set within a deteriorating border with a hazy background, a dreamlike reality is formed, creating dramatic tension between reality and a surrealist otherworldliness. Lot 300 is an excellent example of Marc Eemans central interests; the female form. The juxtaposition of two sensual figures alongside the tactile marble and exposed brick draws the viewer into a strange tantalising world, mixing classicism with the surrealist ideal.