René Magritte

E.L.T. Mesens, Brussels (a gift from the artist in 1924)
Georges Melly, London (a gift from the above in 1968; sale: Sotheby's, London, 25th March 1992, lot 48)
Galerie Ronny Van de Velde, Antwerp (purchased at the above sale)
H.G. Collection, Knokke
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Brussels, Palais des Beaux-Arts; Paris, Musée National d'art Moderne & Paris, Centre Georges Pompidou, Rétrospective René Magritte, 1978-79, no. 193, illustrated in the catalogue
Ostend, Museum voor Moderne Kunst, Ensor à Delvaux, 1996
Antwerp, Museum voor Schone Kunsten, 2002, illustrated in the catalogue
Paris, Musée Maillol, Magritte tout en papier, 2006, illustrated in the catalogue 
Rotterdam, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Voici Magritte, 2006, illustrated in the catalogue
Ostend, Mu.Zee, Het sterrenalfabet van ELT Mesens, 2013, illustrated in the catalogue
Knokke, Galerie Ronny Van de Velde, Éros c'est la vie, 2014, illustrated in the catalogue
Naples (Florida), The Baker Museum, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie: Magritte and the Belgian Surrealists, 2015, illustrated
Knokke, Galerie Ronny Van de Velde, Dada in Knokke, 2016, illustrated in the catalogue

Œsophage I, March 1925, illustrated p. 10
Marcel Mariën, L’Activité surréaliste en Belgique, 1979, illustrated p. 108
David Sylvester, René Magritte, Catalogue raisonné, Oil paintings 1916-1930, London, 1992, vol I, fig. 73, illustrated p. 51 

Executed on cream wove paper, laid down on Japan paper. The edges are deckled. The sheet is very lightly time-stained with a faint mat stain visible along the left edge. There are scattered spots of foxing, predominantly along the right edge and at the centre of the lower edge. There are artist's pinholes to the upper and lower left corners. There is a fine repaired tear of approximately 2cm. running vertically from the centre of the upper edge. This work is in overall good.
"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."

This work has been requested for an exhibition entitled René Magritte. Ligne de Vie to be held at Museum Amos Anderson, Helsinki and travelling to Museo d'Arte Della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano in February 2018 - January 2019.