René Magritte

René François Ghislain Magritte (French: [ʁəne fʁɑ̃swa ɡilɛ̃ maɡʁit]; 21 November 1898 – 15 August 1967) was a Belgian surrealist artist known for his depictions of familiar objects in unfamiliar, unexpected contexts, which often provoked questions about the nature and boundaries of reality and representation. His imagery has influenced pop art, minimalist art, and conceptual art.

René Magritte was born in Lessines, in the province of Hainaut in Belgium, in 1898. He was the oldest son of Léopold Magritte, a tailor and textile merchant, and Régina (née Bertinchamps), who was a milliner before she got married. Little is known about Magritte's early life. He began lessons in drawing in 1910.

On 24 February 1912, his mother drowned herself in the River Sambre at Châtelet. It was not her first suicide attempt. Her body was not discovered until 12 March, 16 days later. It was suggested that 13-year-old Magritte was present when her body was retrieved from the water, but later research discredited this story, which may have originated with the family nurse.