Max Ernst

Max Ernst (born 1891 in Brühl, Germany; died 1976 in Paris, France) was a pivotal figure in both the Dada and Surrealist movements, renowned for his innovative techniques and fantastical imagery. Working across Germany, France, and later the United States during his exile in World War II, Ernst employed a wide range of mediums including oil painting, collage, frottage, grattage, and sculpture. His work is marked by dreamlike landscapes, hybrid creatures, and a fascination with chance and automatism, reflecting his interest in the unconscious and psychoanalytic theory. Ernst’s contributions to modern art have been widely recognised, with major retrospectives held at institutions such as MoMA (New York), Tate (London), and Centre Pompidou (Paris). His artworks are held in numerous leading museum and private collections worldwide. He was awarded the Grand Prize for Painting at the 1954 Venice Biennale, affirming his international stature. The market for Ernst’s work is highly liquid, with his pieces regularly featured in top-tier auctions and commanding strong prices, underscoring his lasting significance in the global art market.