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Magritte is, without doubt, one of the most important 20th century Belgian artists. Let alone one of the ten most known painters in the world. Such a talent has to be on show… and a museum is fully dedicated to his work in Brussels.

The Magritte museum

Ideally located on the Place Royale, close to the Grand Place and the 17200, the Magritte Museum is one of the cultural must-sees of the European capital. Located in the elegant neo classical Altenloh hotel, it hosts the largest selection of works by this major surrealist artist.

Magritte’s life

René Magritte was born in Lessines, province of Hainaut, on November 21st, 1898. In 1910, his family then settles in Châtelet where you can now visit Magritte’s home. René is 14 years old when his mother committed suicide by drowning herself in the River Sambre. Her body would be found a few days later, her face covered by her nightgown: a powerful image that has been suggested as the source of several of Magritte's paintings.

In 1917, he moves to Brussels and studies at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts. Magritte marries Georgette Berger in June 1922. Having also studied art, she becomes Magritte's model, muse, and partner. In the 1920ies, the artists meets the friends who would join his Surrealist adventure. Magritte, influenced by futurism and Chirico’s work, remains the only painter in the group.

In 1930, the couple decides to go and live in Jette. Magritte would work there for 24 years. His house, now the Magritte Museum, also served as headquarters for his surrealist artist friends. They also liked to meet up at La Fleur en Papier Doré, a small café managed by an art dealer, a friend of Magritte’s.

In 1954, René and Georgette move to Schaerbeek, rue des Mimosas, where the artist died in August 1967.

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