magrittes empire of light history 2714490

René Magritte’s *L’empire des lumières* series, comprising 17 oil paintings and 10 gouaches created between the late 1940s and early 1960s, juxtaposes a nocturnal street scene with a bright daytime sky. The article explores the origins, meaning, and market performance of these works, noting that they were inspired by a line from André Breton’s poem *L’Aigrette* and reflect Magritte’s own Brussels neighborhood. Recent auction sales have shattered records, including a 1954 version that sold for $121.2 million at Christie’s New York in November 2024, making it the most expensive Surrealist artwork ever sold at auction.