Rene Magritte’s The Empire of Light: Will It Break $95.5 Million at Auction?

An important work by René Magritte is headed to auction this November that could set a new benchmark for the Belgian Surrealist painter. Christie’s will offer Magritte’s L’empire des lumières from 1954, carrying an estimate in excess of $95 million. If achieved, the price would surpass the current $79.2 million record held by another work from Magritte’s famous Empire of Light series.

The Imposing Painting Anchored a Legendary Collection

The painting anchors the collection of Mica Ertegun, the late interior designer and philanthropist who passed away last year. Ertegun was married to Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun and assembled an eclectic art collection spanning numerous movements and regions before her death at age 97. The Magritte was a highlight of Ertegun’s holdings, which also included works by Joan Miro, David Hockney, and other 20th century masters.

Christie’s will offer the Ertegun collection across a series of auctions, beginning November 19th in New York. The sales trace her fascinating collecting journey and creative lifestyle. A second Magritte painting, La cour d’amour from 1960, will also appear, along with modernist works and important design objects.

According to Christie’s, the 1954 Magritte encapsulates Ertegun’s refined aesthetic. Its solitude and mystery exemplify core themes of Surrealism.

Dreamlike Scenes Captivated the Artist

L’empire des lumières is one of 27 works Magritte painted from the 1940s to 1960s depicting simultaneously night and day scenes. The subject captivated the artist, allowing him to explore dreamlike visual paradoxes. Each painting in the series features a nighttime urban or coastal landscape contradicted by a bright, cloudless sky, usually in blue.

The juxtaposition creates an uneasy, psychologically charged mood that epitomizes Magritte’s oeuvre. The Empire of Light series has become his most recognizable body of work, underscoring his unique visual language.

Do you think The Empire of Light could break the $95.5 million barrier at auction? Place your bets at https://1xbet.com where there are odds of 1.833/1 and a 54.60% chance that it will do exactly that.

Records Continue to be Smashed for Magritte’s Best Works

The impending sale demonstrates the tremendous demand for Magritte’s standout paintings. Earlier this year, another Empire of Light painting sold at Sotheby’s London for £59.4 million ($79.24 million), handily surpassing his previous benchmark.

Just months prior, another work from 1961 broke the past record when it sold for $42.27 million at Sotheby’s New York. The soaring estimates and prices prove Magritte’s market continues to rapidly ascend as museums and collectors compete for his most poignant works.

Global Economic Factors Could Impact Bidding

However, a softened global economy has introduced uncertainty around whether such towering prices can be sustained. It remains to be seen if bidding will rise to meet Christie’s lofty estimate later this fall.

Regardless, the auction house is poised to make history with this museum-quality Magritte. The work’s immense scale and refined execution ensure its status as a Surrealist icon. Christie’s sale exemplifies René Magritte’s enduring relevance and the demand for his imaginative, thought-provoking art.