Le Bouchon d'Épouvante (1966)

In a letter of 21 May 1966, Magritte gave Marcel Mabille instructions for making this object. The oil painting of the image was already completed, or nearly so. He wrote:

"My dear Mabille,
In order to add to your collection of objects dreamt by me, I would suggest the following. It consists of a 'bowler hat' onto which a label is glued. If you want this object, here is the 'modus operandi'

• you buy a black bowler hat
• you get a label printed like those on old pharmacy jars to be stuck on the hat: on gold paper in black 'blocks' letters with a black border.
  The object will be called 'the horrendous stopper'

 

Mabille said later that Magritte signed three labels for him, all printed in red and black on white paper, of which two were used to create versions of this object. " (in d. sylvester, ed., René Magritte, Catalogue raisonné: Oil Paintings, Objects and Bronzes 1949-1967, New York, 1993, vol. iii, p. 458, no. 1086).

Brussels PBA 1978, no. 205

Paris MNAM 1979, no. 205

Brussels MRBA 1982, no. 192

Lausanne Hermitage 1987, no. 124

Munich Kunsthalle 1987, no. 131

Letter from Magritte to Marcel Mabille, 21 May 1966.
H. Torczyner, Magritte, Ideas and Images, New York, 1977, no. 339 (illustrated p. 164).

J. Meuris, Magritte, Paris, 1988, no. 317, p. 204
J. Meuris, René Magritte 1898 - 1967, Geneva, 1990 (illustrated p. 213)
D. Sylvester (ed.), René Magritte, Catalogue raisonné, vol. III, Oil Paintings, Objects and Bronzes 1949-1967, Antwerp, 1993, no. 1086 (illustrated p. 458). 

D. Sylvester, Magritte, Antwerp, 1992, p. 26