Born in 1896 in Balagny-sur- Thérain, a small village in France, André Masson spent most of his youth in Brussels, Belgium working as a pattern maker at an embroidery atelier. Masson began his schooling in 1907 at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. In 1912, he relocated to Paris, where he attended the École des Beaux-Arts. In 1914, the artist was called to military duty for the First World War, where he was severely wounded and sent back to Paris. Much of Masson’s work is influenced by this trauma; his drawings and paintings executed during the 1920s represent battle scenes, blood, death, birds and fish. The strange realities of trench warfare and the immediate contiguity of life and death are drawn upon, and his imagery suggests a confrontation of life at an abnormal level of experience. His signature style deals with violence, evident in terrifying, fragmented figures, which reflect the horrors of the Spanish Civil War and WWII, as well as his troubled psyche in the aftermath of his service in WWI.
After WWI, Masson moved to the South of France, where he met Juan Gris, André Derain, Joan Miró and André Breton. Breton championed the Surrealist Manifesto and Masson joined in the group exhibition of the first Surrealists. An iconoclast, whose abrupt stylistic transitions defy classification, Masson also explored automatism (automatic drawing), a process that sought to express the creative force of the unconscious. These automatic drawings had no preconceived subject or composition. Like a medium channeling a spirit, Masson let his pen travel rapidly across the paper without conscious control. He soon found hints of images, fragmented bodies and objects, emerging from the abstract, lacelike web of pen marks. At times, Masson elaborated on these with conscious changes or additions, but he left the traces of the rapidly drawn ink mostly intact. Masson’s oeuvre explores several techniques of painting, drawing and sculpture and displays rich, colorful abstraction as well as monochrome imagery and automatic linear representations. An early Surrealist and student of Cubism, Masson went on to inspire the New York Abstract Expressionists. Masson developed a technique of automatic painting that retained the element of chance; he dripped glue onto paper to form drawings and then covered it with sand. These ‘sand paintings’ are unquestionably his most iconic style.
When Masson emigrated to the U.S. in 1939, he strongly influenced several American painters with this technique, the most evident example being Jackson Pollack. After his time in America, he returned to Europe and while living in Spain during the mid-1930s, he became enraptured with Spanish themes—bullfights, matadors and Spanish mythology. Masson finally settled down in France (Aix-en-Provence), where he took up a late interest in impressionistic landscape, but he ultimately came to a place where he painted nearly exclusively abstract images. Masson dedicated his life as an artist to encouraging the non-rational purpose in art, to the direct transference of subconscious thought and to the primal forces of conflicts that he experienced in the trenches of World War One. Masson sought to convey in his work a deeper reality of man’s behavior, his own complex personal imagery, and his belief that painting is not a matter of developing style but a part of life itself.
Composition, Poèmes insoumis, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Poêmes insoumis, 1963. Published by Marc Barbezat, Paris; ...
Lithograph
Composition, Poèmes insoumis, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Poêmes insoumis, 1963. Published by Marc Barbezat, Paris; ...
Lithograph
Composition, Poèmes insoumis, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Poêmes insoumis, 1963. Published by Marc Barbezat, Paris; ...
Lithograph
Composition, Poèmes insoumis, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Poêmes insoumis, 1963. Published by Marc Barbezat, Paris; ...
Lithograph
Embleme, Surrealist Etching and Aquatint by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - Embleme, Year: 1942, Medium: Etching and Aquatint, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 5/30, Image Size: 9.5 x 8.75 inches, Size: 18.25 ...
Etching, Aquatint
Dance de feu, Surrealist Color Etching by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - Dance de feu, Year: circa 1960, Medium: Color Etching on BFK Rives, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 50, Image Size: 8 x 10.5 inches, ...
Etching
$7,300
"Venise en Fleurs" from "Je Reve, " Surrealist Lithograph signed by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Venise en Fleurs" is an original color lithograph by Andre Masson. This piece is from the "Je Reve" (I Dream) portfolio of 1975. The edition number, written lower left, is H.C. XXV/...
Lithograph
$1,412
Totem
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Image dimensions: 28x18 cm. Edition of only 30 prints, numbered and hand signed. Excellent conditions. This artwork is shipped from Italy. Under existing legislation, any artwork in...
Etching
Bones And Chrysalids
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Hand Signed. Edition of 60 prints.
Lithograph
Rodeo - Original Etching by A. Masson
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Hand Signed. Edition of 50 prints. Image Dimensions : 20 x 25 cm
Etching
$1,765
Femme
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Hand Signed. Edition of 50 copies (31/50). Image Dimensions : 20.5 x 26.5 cm
Etching
$7,300
20th century color lithograph nude female figure landscape expressionist line
By André Masson
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Dalila" is an original color lithograph by Andre Masson. This piece, which features an abstract, surreal woman, is from Masson's "Je Reve (I Dream)" por...
Lithograph
Le soleil passe au dessus de la fontaine, Surrealist Lithograph by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - Le soleil passe au dessus de la fontaine, Medium: Lithograph on thin wove paper, unsigned, Image Size: 9.75 x 12.75 inches, Size: 11 x 13.25 in...
Lithograph
Pompeii III, Surrealist Lithograph by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - Pompeii III, Year: 1953, Medium: Lithograph and Chine Colle on Arches, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: Epreuve d'Artiste, Image Size: ...
Lithograph
Place de la Concorde, Surrealist Lithograph by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - Place de la Concorde, Year: 1962, Medium: Lithograph on Japon, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: VI/X, Image Size: 15.25 x 11.75 inches,...
Lithograph
Lithograph on Japon Paper by André Masson Edition 70/101
By André Masson
Located in New York, NY
This reserved and sophisticated Lithograph on Japon Paper by André Masson Edition 70/101 originates from France, C. 1973. This surrealistic abstraction features a vertical compositio...
Lithograph
$408Sale Price|20% Off
Anatomie de Mon Univers
By André Masson
Located in Wilton, CT
Reprint of Andre Masson's book from 1939. Printed on heavy wove paper. 30 plates of black and white drawings.
Lithograph
French Abstract Surrealist Vintage Lithograph Mourlot Poster Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Surfside, FL
André-Aimé-René Masson (4 January 1896 – 28 October 1987) was a French artist. Masson was born in Balagny-sur-Thérain, Oise, but when he was eight his father's work took the family ...
Lithograph
French Abstract Surrealist Vintage Lithograph Mourlot Poster Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Surfside, FL
André-Aimé-René Masson (4 January 1896 – 28 October 1987) was a French artist. Masson was born in Balagny-sur-Thérain, Oise, but when he was eight his father's work took the family ...
Lithograph
Le Septieme Chant, Portfolio of Surreal Etchings by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Andre Masson Title: Le Septieme Chant Year: 1974 Medium: Portfolio of four Etchings on Arches, signed and numbered on the colophon Edition: 157/175 Paper Size: 15 x 11.5 inc...
Etching
$7,650Sale Price|50% Off
Deux Femmes Nues Ceramic Plate, Surrealist, Signed, 20th Century
By André Masson
Located in CANNES, FR
"Deux femmes nues ". " naked women " is a ceramic plate signed Masson (underneath ) ." unic piece ". dated 1921 . Andre Masson realized very few works o...
Ceramic
The kidnapping of Europe
By André Masson
Located in Saint-Didier, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
The kidnapping of Europe Beautiful original lithograph by the surrealist artist André Masson. 1972 Publisher: Bellini & Jobin, Paris. Signed in pencil and numbered 38/85 in pencil b...
Lithograph
$1,900
Blue Serpent
By André Masson
Located in New York, NY
Andre Masson (1896-1988), Blue Serpent, 1957, 2 plates, 1) etching and aquatint in colors, signed, dated (30/7/61) and  inscribed “pour Louis Broder epreuve d’artiste.” Reference: S...
Etching, Aquatint
LES EROPHAGES X
By André Masson
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed and numbered by the artist. Image size: 13 x 10 in. Frame size approx 27 x 24 in. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of authenticity included. Edition of 1...
Etching, Paper
'Le Depart' From Souvenirs de Portraits d'Artistes
By André Masson
Located in Philadelphia, PA
André Masson Le Depart Original lithograph in colors on paper Mourlout Souvenirs de Portraits d'Artistes 1972
Lithograph
Price Upon Request
La Velleda Pastel Drawing, Surrealist Style, Circa 1947, Framed
By André Masson
Located in New York, NY
La Velleda, circa 1947, by Andre Masson (1896-1987) Pastel on paper 35 ½ in x 28 ¾ inches unframed (90.17 x 73.03 cm) 50 ¼ x 42 ¾ inches framed (127.64 x 108.59 cm) Signed lower righ...
Pastel
Price Upon Request
Profil Rose
By André Masson
Located in Missouri, MO
Signed Lower Right Numbered 61/200 Sight Size: 27.5 x 21.5 Framed Size: 31.5 x 24.5 Andre Masson was born in Balagne, France on January 4,1896. He was an engraver, sculptor, stage d...
Lithograph
Price Upon Request
Deux Personnages
By André Masson
Located in Missouri, MO
Signed Lower Right Numbered Lower Left 166/200 Framed Size: 33 x 25 inches Andre Masson was born in Balagne, France on January 4, 1896. He was an engraver, sculptor, stage designer...
Lithograph