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Max Ernst More Prints

American, German, French, 1891-1976

Born in Germany in 1891, later naturalized as an American, then a French citizen, Max Ernst was a pioneer in the Dada and Surrealist movements, the boundaries of which he pushed with his unconventional methods of printmaking, drawing and collage.

Ernst had no formal art training — and that may have been his greatest asset. He produced his first work following four years serving in World War I. At the time, he was in Cologne, Germany, working closely with fellow Dada pioneers Jean Arp and Johannes Baargeld. His output during this period consisted largely of collages, which allowed him to represent the shards, rubble and explosions from his traumatic wartime experience.

In 1922, Ernst moved to France, where he soon became affiliated with Surrealism, the avant-garde art movement taking shape in Paris. Alongside Man Ray, Joan Miró and a couple of others, Ernst was among the first visual artists to experiment with imagery and techniques associated with Surrealism.

Ernst’s greatest contribution to the Surrealist movement was his invention of frottage (French for “rubbing”), wherein an artist rubs a pencil or crayon over a paper atop a textured surface, and later grattage (French for “scraping”), where a similar technique is applied with paint. Both methods showcase Ernst’s fascination with the unconscious and serendipitous elements of artistic creation, a theme that connected the Dadaists and the Surrealists. Ernst had deep knowledge of psychoanalysis and Sigmund Freud’s dream theories, which were big influences on Surrealists. He was among the first Surrealists to use Freud’s work to examine his own creative impulses. He also published a series of books of his collages, all of which were deeply symbolic and often philosophical.

When Germany occupied France during World War II, Ernst escaped to America with the help of patron and collector Peggy Guggenheim, whom he married in 1941. While living in New York, Ernst’s work and techniques proved instrumental in inspiring the early development of Abstract Expressionism — influencing Robert Motherwell and Jackson Pollock in particular. He later moved to Sedona, Arizona, where he lived with his fourth wife, Dorothea Tanning, a fellow Surrealist and prolific visual artist and poet.

While Ernst and Tanning are largely responsible for Sedona’s reputation as an artist colony, they relocated to France in the 1950s and remained until Ernst’s death in Paris in 1976.

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Artist: Max Ernst
Hommage à San Lazzaro
By Max Ernst
Located in OPOLE, PL
Max Ernst (1891-1976) - Hommage à San Lazzaro Lithograph from 1975. Edition 371/575 (Photocopy of the colophone is included). Dimensions of work: 31 x 24 cm. Plate signed. Each ...
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1970s Modern Max Ernst More Prints

Materials

Lithograph

"Bonjour" by Max Ernst, Good Day, Surrealism, Light Colors, Figurative
By Max Ernst
Located in Köln, DE
Etching in colours by Max Ernst. "Bonjour", 1966 66,5 x 50,1 cm Copy 7/99 Edition of 111 copies (approx.)
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1960s Surrealist Max Ernst More Prints

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Hibou - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1955
By Max Ernst
Located in Roma, IT
Hand signed and numbered. Edition of 220 prints. Published by Guilde de la Gravure, Geneva and Paris. Ref. Cat. Brusberg n. 76. Very good conditions.
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1950s Surrealist Max Ernst More Prints

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Lithograph

Paroles Peintres
By Max Ernst
Located in New York, NY
Color aquatint and etching. One of 35 impressions from the deluxe edition of 50 on Vélin de Richard de Bas paper, aside from the edition of 150. Signed and numbered 32/50 in pencil, ...
Category

1960s Abstract Max Ernst More Prints

Materials

Etching, Aquatint, Color

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1950s Surrealist Max Ernst More Prints

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1950s Surrealist Max Ernst More Prints

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Dog barking at the moon
Dog barking at the moon
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Previously Available Items
Untitled - Etching by Max Ernst - 1970
By Max Ernst
Located in Roma, IT
Untitled is an original contemporary artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1970 Etching, Aquatint and Carborundum. Hand signed on the lower right margin. Numbered on the lower left. Ed...
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Ohne Titel
By Max Ernst
Located in New York, NY
A very scarce color aquatint and etching by the prolific Dada and Surrealist master, Max Ernst. Signed and numbered 40/51 in pencil by Ernst.
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Plate 32, from: Lewis Carroll's Wunderhorn
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Danseuses - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1950
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Max Ernst more prints for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Max Ernst more prints available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Max Ernst in aquatint, etching, lithograph and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Surrealist style. Not every interior allows for large Max Ernst more prints, so small editions measuring 12 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Anatole Krasnyansky, Mayo (Antoine Malliarakis), and Marc Chagall. Max Ernst more prints prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $3,563 and tops out at $4,846, while the average work can sell for $4,271.
Questions About Max Ernst More Prints
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024
    Max Ernst lived in several places during his life. He was born in Brühl, Germany, in 1881 and later moved to Bonn to attend the university located there. Then he settled in Cologne, not far from his birthplace. In 1922, Ernst moved to France, where he soon became affiliated with Surrealism, the avant-garde art movement taking shape in Paris. Alongside Man Ray, Joan Miró and others, Ernst was among the first visual artists to experiment with imagery and techniques associated with Surrealism. When Germany occupied France during World War II, Ernst escaped to America with the help of patron and collector Peggy Guggenheim, whom he married in 1941. While living in New York, Ernst's work and techniques proved instrumental in inspiring the early development of Abstract Expressionism. He later moved to Sedona, Arizona, where he lived with his fourth wife, Dorothea Tanning, a fellow Surrealist and prolific visual artist and poet. While Ernst and Tanning are largely responsible for Sedona's reputation as an artist colony, they relocated to France in the 1950s and remained there until Ernst's death in Paris in 1976. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Max Ernst art.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024
    You can see Max Ernst paintings in many places around the world. The Max Ernst Museum Brühl des LVR in Brühl, Germany, is home to one of the largest exhibitions of his work. Other museums that have Max Ernst paintings in their permanent collections include the Museum of Modern Art in New York, New York; the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco, California; the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois and the Detroit Institute of Arts in Detroit, Michigan. Explore a range of Max Ernst art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 15, 2024
    Max Ernst used Surrealism to process the traumas he experienced during World War I. His early works consisted largely of collages, which allowed him to represent the shards, rubble and explosions from his wartime experience. In 1922, Ernst moved to France, where he soon became affiliated with Surrealism, the avant-garde art movement taking shape in Paris. Alongside Man Ray, Joan Miró and others, Ernst was among the first visual artists to experiment with the imagery and techniques that became associated with Surrealist art. Ernst’s greatest contribution to the Surrealist movement is often considered his invention of frottage, wherein an artist rubs a pencil or crayon over a paper atop a textured surface, and later grattage, where a similar technique is applied with paint. Both methods showcase Ernst’s fascination with the unconscious and serendipitous elements of artistic creation, a theme that connected the Dadaists and the Surrealists. Explore a range of Max Ernst art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 20, 2024
    Max Ernst contributed to Surrealism by pushing the boundaries of the movement with his unconventional methods of printmaking, drawing and collage. He invented frottage (French for “rubbing”), wherein an artist rubs a pencil or crayon over a paper atop a textured surface, and later grattage (French for “scraping”), where a similar technique is applied with paint. Both methods showcase Ernst’s fascination with the unconscious and serendipitous elements of artistic creation, a theme that resonated with the Dadaists and the Surrealists. Ernst had deep knowledge of psychoanalysis and Sigmund Freud’s dream theories, which were big influences on Surrealists. He was among the first Surrealists to use Freud’s work to examine his own creative impulses. He also published a series of books of his collages, all of which were deeply symbolic and often philosophical. Explore a selection of Max Ernst art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 30, 2024
    How much Max Ernst paintings are worth depends on their size, history, condition and other factors. In 2023, his oil-on-panel piece Taya's Sun sold for more than $304,000 at auction. Ernst was a pioneer in the Dada and Surrealist movements, pushing their boundaries with his unconventional methods of printmaking, drawing and collage. If you own an Ernst, consider having a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer evaluate it. Explore a selection of Max Ernst art on 1stDibs.

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