Not to be Reproduced

Not to Be Reproduced (La reproduction interdite)

Artist	René Magritte
Year	1937
Type	Oil on canvas
Dimensions	81.3 cm × 65 cm (32.0 in × 26 in)
Location	Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam

Not to be Reproduced (La reproduction interdite, 1937) is a painting by the Belgian surrealist René Magritte. It currently is owned by the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam.^[1]

This painting was commissioned by poet and Magritte patron Edward James and is considered a portrait of James although James' face is not depicted.^[2] This painting was one of three produced by Magritte for the ballroom of James' London home. The other two were The Red Model (1937) and Time Transfixed (1938).^[3][4]

The work depicts a man standing in front of a mirror, however, where the book on the mantelpiece is reflected correctly, the man can see only the back of his head.

Connections to Other Paintings

Magritte painted another portrait of Edward James titled Edgar Allan Poe's The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket (written here in French as Les aventures d'Arthur Gordon Pym). Poe was one of Magritte's favorite authors and he made other references to the author and his work. For example, the title of the painting The Domain of Arnheim (1938) was taken from the Poe short story of the same name.

References

1. ^ René Magritte - Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
2. ^ Calvocoressi, Richard, Magritte. Phaidon, London, UK (1984), pg 106.
3. ^ Calvocoressi, pg. 102.
4. ^ Object Information | The Art Institute of Chicago
5. ^ Paquet, Marcel, Magritte. Taschen (2006), Koln, Germany, pg. 79.