Max Ernst

Date of Birth: April 2, 1891

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: April 1, 1976

Biography

Max Ernst was a seminal German painter, sculptor, graphic artist, and poet, known for his significant contributions to both the Dada and Surrealist movements. Born on April 2, 1891, in Brühl, Germany, Ernst developed an early interest in art and went on to study philosophy at the University of Bonn. He abandoned his academic studies to pursue art full-time, becoming a pivotal figure in the avant-garde scene. Ernst’s innovative techniques, such as frottage (rubbing textures) and grattage (scraping layers of paint), set him apart from his contemporaries. His work often featured dream-like, fantastical imagery that questioned conventional perceptions of reality. Throughout his career, Ernst collaborated with other avant-garde artists, including Salvador Dalí, André Breton, and Joan Miró. During World War II, Ernst fled from Europe to the United States, where he continued to produce influential works. He eventually became a naturalized American citizen before returning to Europe in the 1950s. Max Ernst passed away on April 1, 1976, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence modern art.

5 Interesting Facts about Max Ernst

1. Max Ernst was a founding member of the Cologne Dada group, which was instrumental in the development of the Dada movement in Germany.

2. He was married four times, with one of his wives being the renowned art collector and socialite Peggy Guggenheim.

3. Ernst was arrested twice during World War II by the French authorities, being considered an “undesirable foreigner” due to his German nationality.

4. He invented the technique of frottage (rubbing) by laying paper over textured surfaces and then rubbing it with a pencil or crayon to create intriguing patterns.

5. Ernst’s work “The Elephant Celebes” (1921) is considered one of the most iconic surrealist paintings, blending mechanical and organic forms in a dream-like composition.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Max Ernst

1. “Art has nothing to do with taste. Art is not there to be tasted.”

2. “Collage is the noble conquest of the irrational.”

3. “Creativity is that marvelous capacity to grasp mutually distinct realities and draw a spark from their juxtaposition.”

4. “The role of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them.”

5. “It is not the artist’s job to succumb to despair but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Max Ernst’s highest net worth is estimated to have been around $3 million at the time of his death, adjusted for inflation.

Children

Max Ernst had one child, a son named Jimmy Ernst, who was born on June 24, 1920. Jimmy Ernst followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming an acclaimed abstract expressionist painter.