The enigmatic images of the great Surrealist Rene Magritte (1898-1967)are so powerful that they seem to define a completely new reality, where everyday objects and familiar situations are transformed in unexpected ways. Magritte's visual ideas are astounding in their variety and originality, and creative people ranging from philosophers to advertising executives have ransacked his art for inspiration. His impact on fine art and artists has been even more dramatic.This collection of key works, which accompanies a major retrospective opening at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in May 2000, is particularly notable because the paintings have been selected to show Magritte's influence on the art of the latter half of the 20th century. An essay by art historian Siegfried Gohr explores some of the major themes in Magritte's work, while more than 60 colorplates tantalize the viewer.