About
Max Ernst (1891-1976) was a major 20th-century artist. Born in Brühl, Germany, he studied philosophy and psychology at the University of Bonn before serving in the German army during World War I. In 1919, he co-founded the Cologne Dada group. Settling in Paris in 1922, he became a central figure of Surrealism. He invented techniques such as frottage, grattage, and decalcomania. His collages and collage-novels, including 'La Femme 100 têtes' (1929) and 'Une semaine de bonté' (1934), left a lasting mark on art history. Persecuted by the Nazis, he went into exile in the United States in 1941. He received the Grand Prize for Painting at the Venice Biennale in 1954 and became a French citizen in 1958.
* 1891-04-02 — † 1976-04-01
Major works
- La Femme 100 têtes (1929)collage novel
- Rêve d'une petite fille qui voulut entrer au carmel (1930)collage novel
- Une semaine de bonté (1934)collage novel
- Le Roi jouant avec la reine (1944)sculpture
- Capricorn (1948)sculpture
Key milestones
- 1919Co-founded the Cologne Dada group with Hans Arp and Johannes Theodor Baargeld.
- 1925Invented the frottage technique.
- 1954Awarded the Grand Prize for Painting at the Venice Biennale.
Themes
SurrealismDadaCollageDream and the unconsciousMetamorphosis
Sources: maxernstmuseum.lvr.de · britannica.com