“Painting is not for the decoration of apartments; it is a weapon of attack and defense against the enemy.”
(Max Ernst)
Visionary of the Surreal and the Subconscious
Max Ernst was a German-born painter, sculptor, and printmaker who played a pivotal role in both the Dada and Surrealist movements. Born in Brühl, Germany, in 1891, Ernst rejected academic tradition early on and began experimenting with collage, chance operations, and unconscious imagery — techniques that would define his career.
After World War I, he co-founded the Cologne Dada group, and by the 1920s, he had become a central figure in the Parisian Surrealist circle. Constantly innovating, Ernst developed artistic techniques such as frottage (rubbing), grattage (scraping), and decalcomania, which allowed him to tap into automatic processes and unlock the visual language of dreams.
Ernst’s work blends the poetic with the absurd, the scientific with the mystical. His paintings and prints are populated by strange hybrid creatures, planetary landscapes, and symbolic figures that challenge logic and awaken the imagination. He moved frequently — from Germany to France, then to the United States during World War II — and remained a fiercely independent artist throughout his life.
Max Ernst died in Paris in 1976, leaving behind a vast and influential body of work. His prints, lithographs, and illustrated books remain highly regarded for their inventiveness, technical mastery, and enduring mystery.