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.
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Composition (Cramer 97), Une Étoile de Craie, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Une Étoile de Craie, seize lithographies originales par An...
Lithograph
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Composition (Cramer 97), Une Étoile de Craie, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Une Étoile de Craie, seize lithographies originales par An...
Lithograph
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Composition (Cramer 97), Une Étoile de Craie, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Une Étoile de Craie, seize lithographies originales par An...
Lithograph
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Composition (Cramer 97), Une Étoile de Craie, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Une Étoile de Craie, seize lithographies originales par An...
Lithograph
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Composition (Cramer 97), Une Étoile de Craie, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Une Étoile de Craie, seize lithographies originales par An...
Lithograph
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Composition (Cramer 97), Une Étoile de Craie, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Une Étoile de Craie, seize lithographies originales par An...
Lithograph
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Composition (Cramer 97), Une Étoile de Craie, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Une Étoile de Craie, seize lithographies originales par An...
Lithograph
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
Place de la Concorde et L'Arc de Triomphe, Regards sur Paris, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin d’Arches paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: from the folio, Regards sur Paris, 1963. Published by André Sauret, Paris;...
Lithograph
"Le Philosophe Au Papillon, " an Original Color Lithograph, Signed
By André Masson
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Le Philosophe Au Papillon", from Je Reve (I Dream) Portfolio, is an original color lithograph signed in pencil lower right by French Surrealist artist Andre Masson. This is H.C. XXV/XXV. It depicts a brightly colored man...
Lithograph
"Le Prince Iris, " Surrealist Lithograph From "Je Reve" Portfolio
By André Masson
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Le Prince Iris" is an original color lithograph by Andre Masson. The artist signed the piece lower right in pencil and wrote the edition number, H.C. XXV/X...
Lithograph
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
Mines de Rien, Surrealist Etching and Aquatint by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - Mines de Rien, Year: 1957, Medium: Etching and Aquatint on Rives, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 46/50, Image Size: 5.25 x 4.5 inche...
Etching, Aquatint
$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
Place de Concorde, Impressionist Lithograph by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - Place de Concorde, Year: 1962, Medium: Lithograph, unsigned, Image Size: 15 x 11.5 inches, Size: 15.25 x 11.75 in. (38.74 x 29.85 cm), Descrip...
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
L'oeuf Cosmique, Surrealist Etching by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - L'oeuf Cosmique, Year: circa 1946, Medium: Etching, numbered in pencil, Edition: Epreuve d'Artiste, Image Size: 9.75 x 8 inches, Size: 14.5 x...
Etching
Pompeii V, Surrealist Lithograph by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - Pompeii V, Year: 1953, Medium: Lithograph and Chine Colle on Arches, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: Epreuve d'Artiste, Image Size: 9 ...
Lithograph
Pompeii II, Surrealist Lithograph by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - Pompeii II, Year: 1953, Medium: Lithograph and Chine Colle on Arches, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: Epreuve d'Artiste, Image Size: 9...
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
Les Réfugiés - Rare Book illustrated by André Masson - 1942
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Les Réfugiés is an original Rare Book illustrated by Frans Masereel (1889 – 1972) and written by Louis Piérard (Frameries,1886 - Paris, 1951) in 1942. Original First Edition. Published by Arthaud Editeur, Grenoble. Format: Small 8°. The dimensions and the weight are indicative. The book includes 116 pages with 9 full page reproductions of drawings. Good conditions. Frans Masereel (1889 – 1972). He was a Flemish painter and graphic artist who worked mainly in France, known especially for his woodcuts focused on political and social issues, such as war and capitalism. He completed over 40 wordless novels in his career, and among these, his greatest is generally said to be Passionate Journey. Masereel's woodcuts influenced Lynd Ward and later graphic artists such as Clifford Harper, Eric Drooker, and Otto Nückel. Masereel's woodcuts influenced Lynd Ward and later graphic artists such as George Walker, Clifford Harper, Eric Drooker, and New Yorker cartoonist Peter Arno. Masereel's woodcut series, mainly of sociocritical content and expressionistic in form, made Masereel internationally known. Among them were the wordless novels 25 Images of a Man's Passion (1918), Passionate Journey (1919), The Sun (1919), The Idea (1920), Story Without Words (1920), and Landscapes and Voices (1929). At that time Masereel also drew illustrations for famous works of world literature by Thomas Mann, Émile Zola, and Stefan Zweig.
Photogravure
Abstract Composition - Etching by Andre Masson - 1965
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Abstract Composition is an original black and white etching on cardboard realized in 1965 by André Masson. Hand-signed and dated on the lower right margin. On the lower left margin...
Etching
Faune et Femme au Armure - Etching by André Masson - 1966
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Image dimensions: 30x24 cm. Edition of 50 prints, numbered and hand signed by the Artist. Excellent conditions. Insurance may be requested by customers as additional service, contac...
Etching
Amazones
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Limited edition of 50 prints, numbered and hand signed. Excellent conditions.
Etching
Amours Legendaires
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Image dimensions: 30x25 cm. Limited edition of 30 prints, numbered and hand signed. Excellent conditions.
Etching
Figue
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Image dimensions: 15x11 cm. Edition of 60 prints, numbered and hand signed. Excellent conditions.
Etching
Les Jardins d'Armide
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Limited edition of 150 prints. One of the only 20 prints to be realized in black and green. Numbered and hand signed by the Artist. Excellent conditions.
Lithograph
Signed Letter by André Masson - 1940s - Surrealism
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
L.A.S. (Lettre Autographe Signée) Autograph Letter Signed by A. Masson to N. Jacometti. Paris, 22nd November 1949. One page. 27 x 20.9 cm. In 8°. In French. Perfect condition, with u...
Paper
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
Les Fermières Libertines
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Hand Signed. Edition of 50 prints. Perfect conditions. Image Dimensions : 20 x 32 cm
Etching
$1,760
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
Andre Masson 80 Dessins 1922-1960 Galerie Louise Leiris, Paris
By André Masson
Located in Paonia, CO
Andre Masson 80 Dessins 1922-1960 Galerie Louise leiris 47 rue de Monceau Paris VIII 26 Octobre -26 Novembre 1960 published by Mourlot. Ori...
Lithograph
La femme au poisson, Surrealist Etching by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - La femme au poisson, Year: 1972, Medium: Etching, signed in pencil, Image Size: 6 x 5.5 inches, Size: 12.5 x 11 in. (31.75 x 27.94 cm), Descript...
Etching
$7,649Sale 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
no title
By André Masson
Located in Paris, FR
Lithograph Handsigned by the artist in pencil and numbered 95/99 57.00 cm. x 75.50 cm. 22.44 in. x 29.72 in. (paper) 49.00 cm. x 61.00 cm. 19.29 in. x 24.02 in. (image) LCD4233
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
La Jerusalem delivrée
By André Masson
Located in Paris, FR
Engraving Edition : 50/70 46.50 cm. x 39.00 cm. 18.31 in. x 15.35 in. (image) Handsigned by the artist in pencil Ref : LCD3288
Engraving
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
'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
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
$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
L'enigme
By André Masson
Located in LE HAVRE, FR
André MASSON (1896-1987) The enigma, 1975 ink drawing Dimensions: 47.8 x 35cm Signed lower right Provenance: Louise Leiris Gallery, Paris Paper in perfect condition. FREE period ...
Paper, Ink
$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
$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
$840Sale Price|30% Off
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
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