E. L. T. Mesens

Beginning as a composer and pupil of Erik Satie, Mesens formed the Brussels Surrealist group in 1924 alongside René Magritte, Paul Nougé, and Camille Goemans. He recognized Magritte's genius early, purchasing and exhibiting his paintings across Europe.

In 1936, Mesens organized the epochal International Surrealist Exhibition in London. As director of the London Gallery (1938–1950), he championed Henry Moore, Max Ernst, and Picasso, while creating his own refined, witty surrealist collages characterized by poetic wordplay.