The Surrealists: The Surrealists: Max Ernst and Max Ernst and Joan MiroJoan Miro

Max ErnstMax Ernst

Max Ernst: Early LifeMax Ernst: Early Life

► B. 1891 in BrB. 1891 in Brüühl, Germany.hl, Germany.► Enrolled in the University of Bonn to study Enrolled in the University of Bonn to study

philosophy, art history, psychology and philosophy, art history, psychology and literature in 1909literature in 1909

►Decided to become a painter in 1911Decided to become a painter in 1911► Became involved with the artists surrounding Became involved with the artists surrounding

August Macke, an expressionist painterAugust Macke, an expressionist painter► Exhibited for the first time in 1912 with Exhibited for the first time in 1912 with

Macke’s group, Macke’s group, Die Rheinischen Die Rheinischen ExpressionistenExpressionisten (The Rhineland Expressionists)(The Rhineland Expressionists)

Max Ernst: Early LMax Ernst: Early L ife ife (cont.)(cont.)

►Wrote art criticism for the newspaper Wrote art criticism for the newspaper Volksmund Volksmund in the summer and fall of 1912in the summer and fall of 1912

► Enlisted in the Twenty-third Field Artillery Enlisted in the Twenty-third Field Artillery Regiment in Koblenz on August 24, 1914. Regiment in Koblenz on August 24, 1914.

► Served from July 1915 to March 1916 in the Served from July 1915 to March 1916 in the artillery division artillery division

► Suffered minor head and hand injuries Suffered minor head and hand injuries ►Granted a military leave of absence and Granted a military leave of absence and

exhibited over fifty works in a two man exhibited over fifty works in a two man exhibit in January 1916.exhibit in January 1916.

Dada YearsDada Years

► Exhibit entitled “Exhibit entitled “Max Ernst: George Muche”Max Ernst: George Muche” ► Continued to publish articles on art during Continued to publish articles on art during

the warthe war►Married Luise Amelie Straus, an art historian Married Luise Amelie Straus, an art historian

on October 17, 1918 on October 17, 1918 ► Settled in Cologne in 1918Settled in Cologne in 1918► Created and led the Cologne Dada group Created and led the Cologne Dada group

with Johannes Theodor Baargeld in autumn with Johannes Theodor Baargeld in autumn 19191919

► Produced first collages in 1919Produced first collages in 1919

Ernst in military

uniform, c. 1914-1918

““Fatagaga” 1920

“Le Limacon de Chambre”

1920

““Un peu malade le cheval patte pelu..” 1920

Dada Years (cont.)Dada Years (cont.)

► Dada: “A western Europe artistic and literary Dada: “A western Europe artistic and literary movement (1916-23) that sought the movement (1916-23) that sought the discovery of authentic reality through the discovery of authentic reality through the abolition of traditional culture and aesthetic abolition of traditional culture and aesthetic forms.”forms.”

► Cologne Dadaists experimented with Cologne Dadaists experimented with photomontage, use of everyday objects as photomontage, use of everyday objects as artistic materials, and incoherent artistic materials, and incoherent juxtapositionsjuxtapositions

► On April 12, 1920 Ernst & Baargeld published On April 12, 1920 Ernst & Baargeld published Die Schammade, a major publication of the Die Schammade, a major publication of the Cologne DadaistsCologne Dadaists

Dada Years (cont.)Dada Years (cont.)

► Ernst was the center of the Cologne Dada Ernst was the center of the Cologne Dada movement, and called himself “Dada Ernst”movement, and called himself “Dada Ernst”

► Believed that Dada had an honest side Believed that Dada had an honest side under its absurdityunder its absurdity

►Organized a 1920 exhibit of his collages at Organized a 1920 exhibit of his collages at the Au Sans Pareil bookstorethe Au Sans Pareil bookstore

► In 1920 a Dada exhibit was closed by the In 1920 a Dada exhibit was closed by the Cologne police on grounds of obscenityCologne police on grounds of obscenity

► The charges were eventually dropped and The charges were eventually dropped and the exhibit was reopenedthe exhibit was reopened

Dada siegt! 1920

New TechniquesNew Techniques

► Ernst’s son Ulrich was born on June 24, 1920Ernst’s son Ulrich was born on June 24, 1920► Ernst moved to Paris (abandoning his wife Ernst moved to Paris (abandoning his wife

and child) in 1922 and began to paint reliefsand child) in 1922 and began to paint reliefs► Reliefs: “Projections of figures or forms from Reliefs: “Projections of figures or forms from

a flat background, as in sculpture, or the a flat background, as in sculpture, or the apparent projection of such shapes in a apparent projection of such shapes in a painting or drawing.”painting or drawing.”

► Ernst collaborated with poet Paul Eluard on Ernst collaborated with poet Paul Eluard on a book of poetry and collages called “The a book of poetry and collages called “The Misfortunes of the Immortals.” Misfortunes of the Immortals.”

► Book released on July 25, 1922Book released on July 25, 1922

“Au rendez-vous des amis” 1922

““Two Children

Are Threatened

by a Nightingale

.” 1924

New TechniquesNew Techniques

► In the summer of 1925 Ernst perfected In the summer of 1925 Ernst perfected his ‘frottage’ techniquehis ‘frottage’ technique

► In this technique, Ernst first rubbed In this technique, Ernst first rubbed paper with black lead.paper with black lead.

►He next applied layers of paint, with He next applied layers of paint, with the darkest layer last.the darkest layer last.

►Ernst them scraped away the layers to Ernst them scraped away the layers to reveal the lightest color.reveal the lightest color.

“The Forest,” 1927,-1928

Ernst demonstratin

g his frottage technique,

1963

New TechniquesNew Techniques

►Ernst also employed his own version of Ernst also employed his own version of Decalcomania developed by surrealist Decalcomania developed by surrealist painter Oscar Dominguez.painter Oscar Dominguez.

► In this technique, paper or paint was In this technique, paper or paint was applied to the surface of glass, and then applied to the surface of glass, and then peeled away.peeled away.

►Most surrealists left the spontaneous Most surrealists left the spontaneous design untouched, but Ernst modified his design untouched, but Ernst modified his pieces to show cities, forests, and animal pieces to show cities, forests, and animal forms.forms.

Later YearsLater Years

►Over the next few years Ernst would Over the next few years Ernst would experiment with some of his favorite experiment with some of his favorite themes:themes:

►Torn shapes, bird-people, transfigured Torn shapes, bird-people, transfigured forests or cities, apparitions and forests or cities, apparitions and landscaped of crystals and shells.landscaped of crystals and shells.

►Ernst was accused of spying and Ernst was accused of spying and interned at a camp in Milles, but interned at a camp in Milles, but managed to escape to New York. managed to escape to New York.

Later Years (cont.)Later Years (cont.)

►While in New York, Ernst contributed to While in New York, Ernst contributed to the ‘drip’ style of painting that would be the ‘drip’ style of painting that would be used in the future by abstract used in the future by abstract expressionistsexpressionists

►Ernst lives in Arizona until 1949 with his Ernst lives in Arizona until 1949 with his new wife, Dorothea Tanningnew wife, Dorothea Tanning

►He sculpted and painted deserts with He sculpted and painted deserts with crystalline structurescrystalline structures

►Ernst accepted a prize in painting from Ernst accepted a prize in painting from the Venice Biennale in 1954the Venice Biennale in 1954

Ernst with wife Dorothea Tanning, 1948Ernst with wife Dorothea Tanning, 1948

Europe After the Rain, Europe After the Rain, 19401940--19421942

Later Years (cont.)Later Years (cont.)

►Ernst returned to France in 1953, and Ernst returned to France in 1953, and by this time had acquired international by this time had acquired international acclaimacclaim

►His later work included collages made His later work included collages made from everyday objects such as lace, from everyday objects such as lace, cages, and blowtorches, frottages, and cages, and blowtorches, frottages, and bronze sculptures.bronze sculptures.

►Ernst died on April 1, 1976.Ernst died on April 1, 1976.