The Delvaux "Pochette Masquée" is part of a small, but quite interesting moment in Delvaux's modern day history, as it belongs to the Renée Magritte inspired capsule collection released in 2015.
It was created using the very difficult leather artwork technique "reverse appliqué" - involving cutting out the initial core design elements from the top layers of the leather, in this case Magritte's masked apple and his bowler hat, and then adding layers underneath, before carefully restitching the pieces - usually by hand. In this case two symbolic reliefs were created, making this piece a specially difficult one to assemble.
Requiring huge levels of skill, precision and craftsmanship, it not only celebrates the artisan by adding relief to the design with depth and dimension, but also demonstrates with subtleness in a very surrealist style that nothing is quite very much as it seems in the world of Magritte (& Delvaux). The double layering here acts as a form of trompe l'oeuil with the two famous Magritte symbols discreetly interacting with one another, making us question their reality. With the apple on the one hand symbolising temptation and the hat a form of hidden individuality both contradicting each other.
This bag is as much a piece of art as it is a unique conversation starter, bringing surrealism at its course into your living space.
Due to its difficulty in making, only very little pieces were produced specially for this capsule edition, hence we are proud to be able to admire and showcase this beautiful and unique piece of leather architecture to the lovers of Magritte & Delvaux.