Two previously unseen drawings by the renowned Belgian surrealist René Magritte were sold at auction on Friday for a total of €30,700, according to Arenberg Auctions, a Brussels-based auction house. The artworks, which had long been in private hands, were acquired by Belgian buyers.
The first piece, a charcoal sketch of a nude woman dating back to 1920, was signed by Magritte and had an initial starting price of €3,000.
The artwork was sold for €24,000, far exceeding its estimated value. Notably, on the reverse side of the sketch, the same figure is depicted in profile with her hands crossed behind her back, adding an intriguing layer to the work.
The second piece, a pencil drawing showing a woman seated on a balustrade chair, fetched €6,700, nearly triple its starting price of €2,000. This drawing, like the first, had been previously owned by Belgian art critic Arthur Tommelein, who passed away in 1981.
Arenberg Auctions speculated that Tommelein may have discovered the sketches at a flea market or in an art gallery.
After his death, the drawings were passed on to his daughter, who decided to put them up for auction. Both works were authenticated by the Magritte Committee, which oversees the artist’s estate, ensuring their legitimacy and adding significant value to the pieces.
The sale of these rare sketches follows the record-breaking sale of a Magritte painting just last month in New York, which fetched $121.16 million (€114 million), the highest price ever paid for a work by the artist.
The auction highlights the growing interest in Magritte’s work and the continued appreciation for his surrealist style, as art collectors continue to seek out rare and previously unseen pieces from the iconic Belgian artist.
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