Suzanne Spaak was a courageous resister in WWII. Her life became enmeshed with the history behind Belgium’s most famous surrealist painter, René Magritte. By the time war erupted in 1939, Spaak was based in Paris. She envisioned her life there with her husband, Claude Spaak, a revered Belgian playwright. Late in the war, as the conflict heated up, she joined the “Red Orchestra,” a counter-Nazi intelligence cell that opposed Nazi occupation. It was her determination at saving lives in this dark time that would ultimately cause her untimely death at the hands of the Gestapo.
Born into privilege, Suzanne Spaak leveraged her immense resources to save 163 Jewish children from being deported. She sheltered them in her home and assisted their escape through the Underground Railroad to safety. Her noble sacrifice was for all of their lives to save many others, but she paid the ultimate price. Yet in October 1943, Spaak was arrested along with 600 members of the Red Orchestra. Sadly, yet heroically, she was executed by the Nazis in her prison cell on August 12, 1944 at the age of 38 years old. In acknowledgement of her courage, she has been officially recognized by Israel as one of the Righteous Among the Nations.
Surrealist painter René Magritte produced an enchanting sequence of ten portraits of his wife, Georgette Berger. His portrait of her in a neoclassical style renders her almost like a beautiful white marble statue. Claude Spaak was a huge positive influence on René Magritte’s life. He commissioned portraits and provided various forms of financial support that allowed Magritte to break free from his financial woes during the Great Depression. Art historian Thomas Bompard, involved in the organization of this exhibition, emphasized the significance of this family connection.
“The Spaak family was to Belgium what the Mountbattens were to the UK; like royalty and they pulled Magritte out of difficulty,” – Thomas Bompard.
Reflecting on this era, Bompard explained that at the time surrealism was not taken seriously.
“Nobody was buying paintings by surrealists. They were considered revolutionary troublemakers,” – Thomas Bompard.
Although Magritte suffered personally and politically, his art prevailed. By focusing on emotive energy and motion, he developed a commercial style that won him accolades and American art history fame. Among these paintings, one in particular has succeeded to stand as an emblem of his creative genius and influence. Bompard called it “the Taylor Swift of surrealism,” claiming it has cultural importance on that basis.
“If you were to ask a group of schoolchildren to do a presentation on the surrealist movement this painting alone would be enough to define it. I call it the superstar of surrealism,” – Thomas Bompard.
This painting has remained in private hands by descent in the same family since its execution. Now, it’s off to market in Paris! Bompard shared his enthusiasm for this special occasion.
“It is the first time I have handled a major Magritte work that has been in the same family since it was painted. It is extraordinary, as is the history of the family,” – Thomas Bompard.
Magritte struggled with depression and personal tragedies, compounded after the Great Depression starting in 1929 brought economic woes even to successful artists. As Bompard continued, “Life for Magritte was extremely tough during this period. The Great Depression that began in 1929 in the US reached France in the early 1930s. In the first two years, during 1930-32, Magritte sold no paintings and had no exhibitions.
The eventual sale of this painting represents an enormous financial windfall. It deepens our understanding of the long-lasting connection between art and history. Suzanne Spaak’s legacy stands tall, illuminated by her incredible bravery. Her courage in one of humanity’s worst hours echoes profoundly throughout this story.