Magritte, Ideas and Images (1977) by Harry Torczyner is a definitive exploration of René Magritte’s surrealist vision, blending art analysis with personal correspondence between the author (Magritte’s lawyer and confidant) and the artist himself. This richly illustrated volume deciphers Magritte’s iconic motifs—floating bowler hats, obscured faces, paradoxical landscapes—through 60 color plates and 100+ drawings, many accompanied by the artist’s own explanations of his enigmatic symbolism. Torczyner’s unique access reveals Magritte’s wit (“Ceci n’est pas une pipe” dissections) and philosophical rigor, positioning him as a painter of “the mystery of the ordinary.”
The 1977 Abrams first edition (cloth-bound with a striking jacket featuring The Son of Man) is a collector’s cornerstone, though later reprints retain its scholarly heft.
