MAGRITTE, RENÉ | The artist's drawing for the cover of Rhétorique, with an autograph letter

The Property of a Gentleman

MAGRITTE, RENÉ 

The artist's drawing for the cover of Rhétorique, with an autograph letter

Original pen-and-ink drawing signed ("Magritte") on brown paper (possibly the verso of a large envelope, 8 x 10 in.; 203 x 253 mm), with small strip of white paper with autograph changes to layout taped to drawing, [Brussels, c. 1965–66]; tear with paper loss in lower margin (not affecting image) — Autograph letter signed ("René Magritte"), 1 page on his rue des Mimosas letterhead (9 x 5 1/2 in.; 228 x 140 mm), Brussels, 29 March 1966, to André de Rache — with a copy of Rhétorique No. 13, with cover by Magritte, February 1966. Drawing, letter and periodical glazed, matted, and framed attractively in a single frame.

Magritte's drawing for the cover of the Belgian journal Rhétorique No. 13. In this schematic drawing, Magritte sketches out his image for the cover (including the placement of his signature) and indicates the typographic layout for the cover. He also includes circles painted blue and grey to indicate the precise shades he wants for the typography (blue) and the image (grey). He also specifies, "Couverture en papier Blanc-fort — interieur = papier couché – dos de la couverture."

Magritte was a regular contributor to Rhétorique and his illustrations appeared on the covers of several issues. The autograph letter here is written to editor André de Rache in the month after publication of issue no. 13 and discusses other illustrations for the journal.

Magritte's illustration consists of a figure which has obsessed his since the 1920's: a creature resembling the bishop in a chess set topped by a single eyeball. The figure is draped in robes which gives it a female aspect. In the background is a medieval round tower. The chess piece first appeared in Magritte's work in The Lost Jockey (1926). It also appears in several paintings all titled The Difficult Crossing.

A fine drawing showing Magritte as both an artist and a graphic designer.