Max Ernst biography

Max Ernst, born in Brühl on April 2, 1891, and died in Paris on April 1, 1976, is a renowned German artist, naturalized French, considered one of the leading figures of surrealism. Son of the teacher for the deaf Philipp Ernst, Max Ernst became interested in art from a young age. In 1909, he enrolled at the University of Bonn to study philosophy, psychology, and the art of the insane, but soon devoted himself entirely to art.
In 1912, Max Ernst founded the group "Das Junge Rheinland" with August Macke, exhibiting for the first time in Cologne. Two years later, he met Hans Arp, beginning a long friendship. During the First World War, despite military service, he managed to continue painting, exhibiting at the "Der Sturm" gallery.
In 1918, he marries Luise Strauss and discovers the artwork of Giorgio de Chirico, which deeply inspires him. He founds the Dada group W/3 West Stupidia and organizes the first Dada exhibition in Cologne. In 1920, during his second trip to Paris, he is appreciated by critics and begins to collaborate with surrealism figures like André Breton and Paul Éluard.
Max Ernst is known for inventing semi-automatic techniques such as frottage, grattage, and oscillation. Some examples of these techniques include "Histoire naturelle" (1926) for frottage, "Bird Wedding" (1925) and "The Whole City" (1935/36) for grattage, and "Il pianeta confuso" (1942) for oscillation. He also explored collage and decalcomania, producing significant works such as "La femme 100 têtes" (1929) and "Une semaine de bonté" (1934).
With the rise of Nazism, Max Ernst is labeled as a degenerate artist and in 1939 is arrested by the French. He flees to the United States in 1941, where he marries Peggy Guggenheim and, later, the painter Dorothea Tanning. During his stay in America, he experiments with new expressive forms and creates important sculptures.
Max Ernst returns to Europe in 1953 and in 1954 wins the first prize at the Venice Biennale. He dies in Paris in 1976, leaving an invaluable artistic legacy that reflects his constant research and experimentation. His works, characterized by innovative techniques and surreal themes, continue to influence contemporary art.