René Magritte

Bodley Gallery (David Man), New York
Girard Spencer, Massachusetts (1959)
Faggionato Fine Arts, London
Private Collection, Europe
Sale: Sotheby's, London, 8th February 2005, lot 77
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

Edinburgh, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Magritte, 1999-2000, illustrated in colour in the catalogue

Executed on cream wove paper, not laid down, attached to the overmount along the top edge. Apart from a small spot of surface medium loss to the bottom right edge of the sheet, not visible when framed, this work is in good original condition. Colours: The colours are more subtle and refined in the original. The white spot to the clouds in the upper right of the sky in the catalogue is not present in the original work.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

L'État de veille is one of several gouaches Magritte executed in 1958 on the subject of a window in the sky. Filling the void between the two buildings partly visible to the left and right of the composition, the windows appear to be suspended in mid-air, as if we were witnessing a mirage. This image was inspired by an experience related to Magritte by Jacques Wergifosse, later published in a newspaper article in 1968:

'On my way to spend a day with Magritte in Brussels, for once I walked to the station. I was going along the boulevard Avroz (in Liège) when I came to a wide opening (it no longer exists) with a view of the Meuse. I looked into the distance. Suddenly, on the other side of the river, I saw a series of windows appear high up in the sky. The grey walls of the large building in the Place d'Italie had melted into the sky. On arriving at Magritte's house, I told him what had happened. This gave him an idea for several gouaches, three of which were called 'The waking state' I, II and III. This was in 1958' (quoted in D. Sylvester (ed.), René Magritte Catalogue Raisonné. Gouaches, Temperas, Watercolours and Papiers Collés, Antwerp, 1994, vol. IV, p. 208).