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Magritte’s Masterpiece Sets Surreal World Record, Selling for $121 Million at Christie’s
BY ALBERT CHEN
René Magritte’s enigmatic painting, L’empire des Lumières (1954), sold for $121.2 million at Christie’s in New York, setting a new auction record for the Belgian surrealist. The sale, part of an event dedicated to the collection of the late interior designer Mica Ertegun, surpassed its $95 million pre-sale estimate and solidified the artwork’s place as a landmark in 20th-century art.
The oil painting, one of 27 iterations of L’empire des Lumières, juxtaposes a tranquil, daylit sky with a nocturnal streetscape. The surreal paradox has captivated art lovers for decades. A single lamppost casts light over a darkened house and trees, with reflections shimmering in a pool below. The contrast between the serene blue sky and the shadowy foreground is quintessential Magritte, embodying his fascination with duality and mystery.
A Fierce Bidding War
The auction unfolded dramatically at Christie’s Rockefeller Center flagship. Bidding opened at $75 million and quickly escalated as two determined telephone bidders vied for the piece. After nearly 10 minutes, auctioneer Adrien Meyer declared victory for Alex Rotter’s client, securing the final bid of $105 million, with fees bringing the total to $121.2 million. The room erupted in applause.
“It’s an iconic image, not just for Magritte but for surrealism and modern art as a whole,” said Emmanuel Di Donna, a New York-based dealer specializing in surrealism. This sale eclipses Magritte’s previous record of $79.8 million for Le Principe du Plaisir (1937), set at Sotheby’s in 2022.
A Legacy in Light and Shadow
Magritte began exploring the motif of day and night in L’empire des Lumières during the late 1940s. Over the next two decades, he created 17 oil paintings and 10 gouaches, each depicting the same scene with slight variations. This 1954 canvas, a standout among the larger works, was once displayed in the Belgian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale and was acquired by Ertegun in 1968.
Art historians have praised the piece’s haunting interplay of light and shadow. Sandra Zalman, an associate professor at the University of Houston, described the lamppost’s shadow as “an early iteration of Magritte’s iconic bowler-hatted man,” suggesting a human presence haunting the landscape.
A Bright Spot Amid Market Slowdown
The record-setting sale comes amid a sluggish art market. Christie’s global auction sales in the first half of 2024 were down 22% compared to the same period in 2023, according to Art Basel and UBS’s 2024 Survey of Global Collecting. Despite this, standout works like Magritte’s continue to draw significant interest, underscoring the enduring appeal of surrealist art.
In addition to L’empire des Lumières, Christie’s sold two other Magritte works from the Ertegun collection: La cour d’amour for $10.53 million and La Mémoire for $3.68 million.
A Timely Sale for a Surreal Time
As 2024 marks the centennial of the surrealist movement, the sale of L’empire des Lumières feels particularly significant. “It’s a surreal moment in history to be living through,” Zalman reflected, drawing parallels between the anxieties of Magritte’s era and those of today. Magritte’s vision of the extraordinary within the ordinary continues to resonate, proving that his work transcends time, inspiring collectors and audiences alike.
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