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Max Ernst

German artist (1891-1976) · Germany · Artists · Died at 84

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He invented ways to make art that had never existed - frottage, grattage, collage novels - because he had no training to tell him he couldn't.

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A life in dates

1976Died1 April 1976Goslarer KaiserringAward1948“A painter may know what he doesn't want. But woe be to him if he desires to know what he wants. A painter is lost if he finds himself.”In their wordsIn Beyond Painting, Max Ernst, 1948, p.14; as quoted in Max Ernst: a Retrospective, ed. Werner Spies & Sabine Rewald, Metropolitan Museum

1942“I saw a shady forest and therein a crowd of nightingales.”In their wordsJune 1942text of Max Ernst's poem 'First Memorable Conversation with the Chimera', in the journal 'VVV', no. 1. New York, June 1942, p. 17

“Max Ernst died the 1st of August 1914. He resuscitated the 11th of November 1918 as a young man aspiring to become a magician and to find the myth of his time.”In their wordsApril 1942Quote in 'Some Data on the Youth of M. E., As Told by Himself' in the w:View (April 1942); also cited in Max Ernst and Alchemy (2001) by M.

1934“What is a forest? A marvelous insect. A drawing-board, what do forests do? They never go to bed early. They are waiting for the tailor. What is the high season of the forests?”In their wordsQuotes from: 'The mysteries of the forest' (1934), Max Ernst; published in 'Minotaure', No. 5, 1934, 'Ecritures', pp. 221, 223; as quoted

“Are there still forests over there?”In their wordsQuotes from: 'The mysteries of the forest' (1934), Max Ernst; published in 'Minotaure', No. 5, 1934, 'Ecritures', pp. 221, 223; as quoted

1923“One rainy day in Cologne on the Rhine, the catalogue of a teaching aids company caught my attention.”In their words15 October 1923Quote in 'Biographical Notes. Tissue of truth, Tissue of Lies', 1929; as cited in Max Ernst. A Retrospective, Munich, Prestel, 1991, p. 290

1891Born2 April 1891

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Max Ernst 1968Max Ernst 1968'Dadaville', painted plaster and cork laid on canvas by Max Ernst'Dadaville', painted plaster and cork laid on canvas by Max Ernst18 Max Ernst Museum x)18 Max Ernst Museum x)Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F037597-0004, München, Brandt empfängt Max ErnstBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F037597-0004, München, Brandt empfängt Max Ernst34. Adolf Hoffmeister, Podivný svět Maxe Ernsta, 196034. Adolf Hoffmeister, Podivný svět Maxe Ernsta, 1960Developpement de la montre à Roue de rencontre - PP. Choffard fecit. LCCN93512894Developpement de la montre à Roue de rencontre - PP. Choffard fecit. LCCN93512894Eaubonne - Maison Paul-EluardEaubonne - Maison Paul-EluardExposition Max Ernst Paris 1921Exposition Max Ernst Paris 1921

In their own words 10

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Max Ernst
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10 statements, newest first

  1. Studies in painting: Non. He learned to express himself by means of art in the same way as the child learns to talk.

    1948, Quote in a questionnaire, Max Ernst filled out in 1948, the U.S; as cited in Max Ernst: a Retrospective, ed. Werner Spies & Sabine Rewald,, Own words

  2. A painter may know what he doesn't want. But woe be to him if he desires to know what he wants. A painter is lost if he finds himself.

    1948, In Beyond Painting, Max Ernst, 1948, p.14; as quoted in Max Ernst: a Retrospective, ed. Werner Spies & Sabine Rewald, Metropolitan Museum, Own words

  3. I saw a shady forest and therein a crowd of nightingales.

    Jun 1942, text of Max Ernst's poem 'First Memorable Conversation with the Chimera', in the journal 'VVV', no. 1. New York, June 1942, p. 17, Own words

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Awards

Goslarer Kaiserring1976
Venice Biennale
Lichtwark Prize

Family

Max Ernst

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About this person

Ernst was born in Brühl in 1891 and started painting in 1909 while studying at the University of Bonn, joining Die Rheinischen Expressionisten soon after. Four years as a soldier in World War I left him shocked and traumatised, and that rupture fed directly into his pioneering work in Dada and surrealism - movements built on ironic juxtaposition, grotesque elements, and a distrust of reason. He developed frottage (pencil rubbings of textured surfaces) and grattage (scraping paint to reveal objects beneath) as techniques, and built novels from collages. Birds appeared constantly in his work, especially Loplop, his alter ego. During World War II, while living in France, he was labelled an "undesirable foreigner." He settled there permanently afterward and finally found financial success in the 1950s. He died in Paris on 1 April 1976, one day before his 85th birthday.

Country
Germany
Category
Artists
Type
Artist
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1891 to 1976 · aged 84

In common with Max

Stanley KubrickAlso in Dreams That Money Can Buy (1947)Jacques PrévertAlso in L'Âge d'or (1930)Johannes HeestersAlso in When Women Keep Silent (1937)Hans RichterAlso in Dreams That Money Can Buy (1947)Jean ServaisAlso in The Woman with 100 Heads (1968)Ilse WernerAlso in Fräulein (1939)

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