The Lovers (French: Les Amants (French pronunciation: [lez‿amɑ̃])) is a surrealist painting by René Magritte, made in Paris in 1928. It is the first in a series of four variations, and in the painting two people can be seen kissing passionately with their faces covered in a white cloth hiding their identities. The barrier of fabric transforms an act of passion, such as a kiss, into an act of frustration, representing the lovers who cannot be together. Currently, it is located in the MoMA of New York City, as a part of Richard S. Zeisler's collection.
1927
Meets Breton and joins the Surrealist circle
In Paris he became friends with André Breton and joined his Surrealist circle, where he kept his individuality yet found his recognisable style. He was not afraid to argue with the others: he disliked psychoanalysis, especially in art, regarding his own work as philosophical and poetic rather than psychological.
1927
Moves to Paris after the failed exhibition
Depressed by the failure of the exhibition, he left for Paris with Georgette and stayed there for about three years.
1927
First solo exhibition — and a failure
His first solo exhibition opened in Brussels; the reviews were poor, and Magritte was depressed by the failure.
1929
A contract with the Goemans Gallery in Paris
In 1929 the Goemans Gallery in Paris put Magritte under contract, together with Jean Arp and Yves Tanguy.
15 December 1929
The essay “Words and Images” in the Surrealists’ journal
On 15 December 1929 the last issue, No. 12, of La Révolution surréaliste carried Magritte’s essay “Les mots et les images”, in which words play with images in step with his “The Treachery of Images”.
1930–1954 · Residence
René Magritte House
May one see it?
On public display.
