An anonymous buyer purchased an untitled René Magritte drawing on eBay for $1,580 in January 2025. The work, executed in ballpoint pen, colored pencil, and pencil on paper, will be auctioned by Rago/Wright in Lambertville, New Jersey on May 21 with a high estimate of $150,000—a nearly hundred-fold increase. The drawing depicts three giant white chess pieces towering over a landscape and once belonged to Mora Henskens, companion of Harry Torczyner, a friend and collector of the artist. It was acquired by Henskens from Magritte's widow, Georgette Berger Magritte, and later sold through VanDeRee Auctions before appearing on eBay.
This story matters because it highlights the potential for discovering significant artworks on online platforms like eBay, and the dramatic value appreciation that can occur when a work is authenticated and linked to a major artist. It also underscores the continued strength of the Magritte market, as his painting L'empire des Lumières (1954) set a record $121.2 million at Christie's in November 2024, and another from the same series is expected to fetch over $30 million in May 2025. The drawing's provenance—connecting it to Torczyner, a key figure in Magritte's career—adds further historical and monetary value.