Art lovers are definitely in for a treat with the masterful pairing. Though the duo are often seen in exhibitions with Picasso, Joan Miro, Frida Kahlo, Marcel DuChamp, Man Ray and other Surrealists, this first-ever show of the two in their own exhibit presents a marvelous view of the similarities they shared, and highlights the unique ways each expressed a similar idea. The artwork on display in Magritte & Dalí embodies a core selection of work identified with their individual careers.
For the landmark show, St. Petersburg’s Dalí Museum collaborated with Belgium’s Royal Museums of Fine Arts, home to a major collection from Belgian artist Rene Magritte. He and Dalí have been dominating influences on the art world since their arrivals in Paris, where they joined fellow Surrealists in creating one of the most influential art movements of the 20th century.
“It has been an honor to partner with Belgium’s Royal Museums of Fine Arts to bring together the most recognized painters of Surrealism in an exhibition devoted solely to their work,” said Dr. Hank Hine, executive director of The Dalí.
The works on display span about 20 years, from the 1920s through the 1940s, a time when the painters were the toast of Paris, hobnobbing with all of the famous names of that city’s avant garde. The two were friends, united in their fantastic imagery that challenges reality and questions everyday thoughts and actions.
They often used similar themes, but each man rendered his vision in his own distinctive voice. For example, both created a Venus de Milo using the familiar in a new way. Magritte’s rendition is a small plaster cast with its drape painted a dark, nearly black, green, while Dalí places his Venus in the large painting titled “The Hallucinogenic Toreador” to depict wife Gala’s dislike of bullfighting. They also used their wives as model and muse, so Gala and Magritte’s wife, Georgette, often appear in paintings as themselves or in allegorical settings.
The two artists came to Paris in the 1920s, though Magritte appeared first and was established as the darling of the renowned Surrealist movement when Dalí came from Spain a couple of years later. What’s more, they were classically trained, which is evident in the subject matter as well as technique. During their time in Paris, they were close friends, and shared an appreciation for disruptive art that questioned reality and a commitment to thought-provoking concepts.
The inclusion of photos, correspondence and other memorabilia is an integral part of the exhibit. It shows the friendship between the men and their wives, a real camaraderie born from their love of the absurd, the unpredictable aspect of life. This is the only place where a little brightness would enhance the experience. A number of the photos are small, dark, sepia-toned images that would benefit from more light. But the large, poster-size photos of the duo are a wonderful testimony to their friendship.
Throughout, the works are grouped together in concept. Each gallery displays a theme, such as an image within an image. Magritte’s bird composed entirely of clouds inside an outline, titled “L’Oiseau de Ciel” (Sky Bird), fills its space with imagery. Dalí uses the same concept in “Old Age, Adolescence and Infancy” (The Three Ages), where outlines are again filled with visions — this time, reverse images, those conundrums that fool your brain into seeing one thing, then seeing something completely different. Dalí and Magritte delight in this trickery, and each artist has several of these on display.
The whole exhibit is just fun, from the quirky artwork to the interactive features at the end. It’s a rare treat to see so much Magritte, and it’s a major attraction for art lovers because it won’t travel around the U.S.: Magritte & Dalí is at The Dalí through May, then returns to Europe.
The museum has a number of events planned in connection with the exhibit, the first of which is Jan. 13’s Magritte Art Talk with Timothy Baum, a well-known Surrealist art dealer who met both Magritte and Dalí. An adult art workshop based on Magritte’s works follows Jan. 31. To keep the celebrating going, the on-site Cafe Gala will also add Belgian beer and a special Belgian chocolate torte to its menu.
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This article appears in Dec 20-27, 2018.