Style Edit: Delvaux launches a René Magritte-inspired collection exclusive to Asia – the brand celebrates the surrealist artist’s 125th year with exhibitions and new pieces

Aug 6 , 2023

A Delvaux Brillant bag designed in collaboration with the Magritte Foundation to celebrate 125 years of René Magritte. Photos: Handout

The surrealist movement had an unmistakable impact on the world of contemporary art. Salvador Dalí, Man Ray and René Magritte defined the post-war cultural movement with their vividly imaginative expressions, use of colour and experimental techniques. Magritte became not only a forefather of the movement, but also one of Belgium’s best-known artistic exports.

A display of artworks by Belgian artist René Magritte at the K11 Musea Delvaux boutique. The exhibition also features two interactive AI-generated paintings

Speaking of Belgian big names, leather goods house Delvaux’s notable heritage spans almost two centuries. With its roots dating back to 1829, Delvaux is the world’s oldest purveyor of luxury leather items and is the proud inventor of the modern handbag, which was first patented in 1908. The brand’s archive boasts more than 3,000 designs and has held the Belgian Royal Warrant since 1883.

Today, Delvaux’s designs are available to its fans at the world’s most prestigious addresses, from New York’s Fifth Avenue and Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris, to London’s New Bond Street. Each boutique boasts a distinct identity, offering discerning clientele a unique experience.

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Delvaux is exhibiting seven of the surrealist’s masterpieces in Hong Kong and Seoul. The exhibitions also feature two interactive AI-generated paintings

Celebrating what would be Magritte’s 125th year, Delvaux has launched a capsule collection inspired by the late artist’s works. In conjunction with its exclusive Asian launch, Delvaux is exhibiting seven of the surrealist’s masterpieces in Hong Kong and Seoul, marking the first time the works will be exhibited in these cities. The Delvaux collection is made up of four main motifs inspired by Magritte’s two main passions in life: his art and the love of his life, his wife Georgette Berger.

Magritte’s works are said to have been heavily influenced by his love for Berger. The pair met as childhood sweethearts and their relationship withstood the separation of war. Berger served as the artist’s muse, champion and subject until his death in 1967.

The Delvaux Brillant bag features a play on the same text from René Magritte’s iconic artwork.

The L’Amour collection draws artistic inspiration from the L’Art de la Conversation (1950) painting, which depicts two swans on a moonlit lake with the interplay between the water and the shadows spelling out “amour”. Those letters are embroidered on Delvaux’s Brillant and Pin bags using bourdon stitching on calf leather in vibrant hues including aloe, ivory, azure and bloom.

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The collection also draws on one of Magritte’s most iconic works, Trahison des Images (1928-29). Hyperrealist in style, the artwork depicts a pipe with the words “Ceci n’est pas une pipe” (this is not a pipe) underneath. The L’Humour collection has the words “Ceci n’est pas un Delvaux” embroidered across the Box calf and Pin mini bucket bags.

The Delvaux Pin features the word “amour” embroidered on calfskin.

One of Magritte’s symbols – the apple – gives life to the La Pomme series. The humble fruit was the focal point of three of the artist’s notable works: masked in Le Prêtre Marié (1968), filling the entirety of a room in La Chambre d’Écoute (1968), and covering a subject’s face in Le Fils de L’Homme (1964). The apple lends its colour and shape to La Pomme, a creative interpretation of Magritte’s works completed in jumping calf leather.

The apple, a symbol that’s synonymous with René Magritte, features on a Delvaux wallet.

Le Fils de l’Homme again lends artistic inspiration to another piece in the Delvaux collection, L’Homme. Though the man’s face is never revealed, the painting is often considered to be a self-portrait. The clouds in the background of the painting bring striking detail to the Pin City handbag as well as a series of smaller statement items.

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Fashion

Both Belgian cultural icons, René Magritte defined surrealist art with Salvador Dalí and Man Ray, while Delvaux is the world’s oldest maker of luxury leather goods and inventor of the handbag
Today, the leather goods house has taken inspiration from Magritte to create a new collection, marking the launch with an exhibition of the artist’s masterpieces in Hong Kong and Seoul