The first 20 years

1898 :-Rene Francois-Ghislain Magritte born in Lessines in the Belgian province of Hainault on 21 November, the son of Leopold Magritte, a tailor and textile merchant, and his wife Adeline, nee Bertinchamps, a milliner. 1900 :-The family moves to Gilly, where Magritte's brother Raymond is born on 29 June. 1902 :-Magritte's second brother Paul born on 24 October. 1902 - 1920 :- The Magritte family move house several times, first to Chatelet, then to Charleroi. 1910 :-Rebe Magritte attends drawing lessons for children for the first time; he learns poker-work. 1912 :- His mother commits suicide at the age of 41. Forreasons which remains unknown, she drowns herself in River Sambre. 1913 :- The family return to Charleroi, where Magritte attends grammar school. The children are brought up by a governess and by their grandmother. Magritte makes the acquaintance of his future wife Georgette Berger. 1916 :- Magritte enrols for 2 years at the Acamdemie des Beaux Arts in Brussels. He attends courses given by Van Damme, Ghisbert, Combaz and the Symbolist painter Montald. He makes the acquaintance of Victor Servranckx. 1918 :- The Magritte family finally settle in Brussels