Not to be Reproduced

Not to Be Reproduced
(La reproduction interdite)

Artist	René Magritte
Year	1937
Medium	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 is currently 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's face is not depicted.^[2] This painting was one of three produced by Magritte for the ballroom of James's 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, but whereas the book on the mantelpiece is reflected correctly, the man can see only the back of his head.

Connections to other works

The book on the mantel is a well-worn copy of 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 in 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.^[5]

Magritte painted another portrait of Edward James titled The Pleasure Principle (1937). It depicts James from the front, sitting at a table; however, his face is obscured by a bright flash like that produced by a camera flash.^[6][7]

In 1977, Graham Hughes made a reference to the painting as the cover art for Roger Daltrey's third solo album One of the Boys.

A loose recreation of the painting appeared in David Koepp's 2004 film Secret Window and in Richard Ayoade's 2013 film The Double.

References

1. René Magritte - Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen Archived September 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
2. Calvocoressi, Richard, Magritte. Phaidon, London, UK (1984), pg 106.
3. Calvocoressi, pg. 102.
4. Object Information | The Art Institute of Chicago
5. "Magritte and Poe: Strange Brew". Matteson Art. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
6. Paquet, Marcel, Magritte. Taschen (2006), Koln, Germany, pg. 79.
7. The Pleasure Principle (Portrait of Edward James), by René Magritte. 1937. Oil on canvas. 79 x 63.5 cm. Edward James Foundation, Chichester, UK.