Max Ernst

1891 - 1976

German surrealist, he studied philosophy and psychology in Bonn and was drawn to painting probably by his interest in the art of the mentally ill. Ernst was influenced by his meeting with August Macke, who introduced him to the circle of German expressionists. His work was also deeply affected by his experiences from the First World War. Together with Hans Arp they founded a Dada group in Cologne and he remained faithful to dadaism until the beginning of the 1920’s when he shifted to surrealism and became a member of a surrealist group until 1938. Ernst used various art techniques, not merely painting, such as collages, frottages and collage novels. In 1941 he emigrated to the USA where he published, together with Breton and Duchamp, the VVV magazine propagating the surrealist movement in America. On his return to Europe he was attracted by cubism, geometric shapes and also produced prints.