Who is Max Ernst?

Max Ernst (1891-1976) was a German-French artist who pioneered key Surrealist techniques including frottage, grattage, and decalcomania. A founding member of both Dada in Cologne and Surrealism in Paris, Ernst developed innovative methods for accessing the unconscious through chance procedures. His collage novels, including ‘Une Semaine de Bonte,’ assembled Victorian engravings into disturbing dreamlike narratives. Ernst’s paintings range from mysterious forests created through grattage to elaborate fantasy worlds populated by bird-like creatures (his alter-ego Loplop). His constant experimentation and technical innovation made him one of Surrealism’s most influential figures, inspiring generations of artists to develop new methods for bypassing rational control.