René Magritte

Mrs. Van Den Broeck, Brussels (acquired from the artist)

Guy Pieters Gallery, Deurle (acquired from the above)

Private Collection, Belgium (acquired from the above and sold: Sotheby's, New York, May 3, 2006, lot 39)

Noortman Master Paintings, Maastricht (acquired at the above sale)

Acquired from the above

David Sylvester, Sarah Whitfield & Michael Raeburn, René Magritte Catalogue Raisonné, vol. V, London, 1993, no. 1394a, illustrated

Excellent condition, paper tape along the reverse edges. The sheet, excluding the apples, maybe very slightly faded as the previously covered edges are slightly darker.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The obscuring of identity and the destabilization of the known world were constant themes in Magritte's art.  The masked apples depicted in the present work from 1955, La Valse hésitation, first appeared in a 1950 oil of the same title.  Magritte continued to incorporate the motif into several of his compositions over the next two decades with the interchangable title, Le Prêtre Marié.  The contradictions inherent in both of these titles was indicative of the tantalizing subtext of the present work.   The apples, known as the fruits of carnal knowledge, are seductively anthropomorphized by masks.  By masking the apples, Magritte also turns the tables on an object which he often used to mask his own face.   

The first owner of this work was Mrs. Van Den Broeck, the proprietress of "Vincent," which was one of Magritte's favorite restaurants on the rue des Dominicains in Brussels.