[Friends]

1930s

The patronage of Edward James

The British Surrealist patron Edward James let Magritte stay rent-free in his London home, where he studied architecture and painted; James is depicted in two paintings of 1937, “The Pleasure Principle” and “Not to Be Reproduced”.

1930–1954 · Woonplaats

René Magritte House

1936–1940

An affair with Sheila Legge and a marriage in crisis

In 1936 Magritte met the young performance artist Sheila Legge and began an affair with her; he arranged for his friend Paul Colinet to entertain and distract Georgette, but this led to an affair between Georgette and Colinet. The couple did not reconcile until 1940.

1938

Exhibition at the London Gallery

In 1938 an exhibition of his work was held at the London Gallery, following the New York solo show of 1936.

1938

A lecture on the “magical” in art

In a lecture in 1938 Magritte named the magical in art — which he had met as a child — as his guiding star.

from 1940

Stays in occupied Brussels and breaks with Breton

During the German occupation of Belgium Magritte remained in Brussels, which led to a break with Breton.