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Max Ernst Art

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
Max Ernst, Electra, from XXe Siecle 1959
Max Ernst, Electra, from XXe Siecle 1959

Max Ernst, Electra, from XXe Siecle 1959

By Max Ernst

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Max Ernst (1891–1976), titled Electra (Electra), from the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie, XXIe Annee, No. 13, Noel 1959, originates from the 1959 editi...

Category

1950s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Les Petits Soldats - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

Les Petits Soldats - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

The Soldier's Ballad is a contemporary artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Mixed colored lithograph on Arches Paper. Edited by Manus Presse, Stuttgart 1972. Not signed and not ...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Max Ernst, Coelacanthe, from XXe Siecle, 1974
Max Ernst, Coelacanthe, from XXe Siecle, 1974

Max Ernst, Coelacanthe, from XXe Siecle, 1974

By Max Ernst

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Max Ernst (1891–1976), titled Coelacanthe (Coelacanth), from the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie, XXXVIe Annee, No. 42, Juin 1974, originates from the 1974 edition published by Societe Internationale dArt XXe Siecle, Paris, under the direction of Gualtieri di San Lazzaro, editeur, Paris, and printed by Pierre Chave, imprimeur, Vence, 1974. Coelacanthe reflects Ernsts poetic, textural, and dream-infused Surrealist language at a mature moment in his career. Executed as a lithograph on velin paper, this work measures 12.5 x 9.75 inches. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the superb craftsmanship of Pierre Chave, imprimeur, Vence. Artwork Details: Artist: Max Ernst (1891–1976) Title: Coelacanthe (Coelacanth) Medium: Lithograph on velin paper Dimensions: 12.5 x 9.75 inches (31.75 x 24.77 cm) Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1974 Publisher: Societe Internationale dArt XXe Siecle, Paris, under the direction of Gualtieri di San Lazzaro, editeur, Paris Printer: Pierre Chave, imprimeur, Vence Catalogue Raisonne Reference: Ernst, Max, et al. Max Ernst: Graphische Welten: Die Sammlung Schneppenheim. DuMont, 2003, illustration 252. Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie, XXXVIe Annee, No. 42, Juin 1974, published by Societe Internationale dArt XXe Siecle, Paris; printed by Pierre Chave, imprimeur, Vence, 1974 About the Publication: Gualtieri di San Lazzaros XXe Siecle (Twentieth Century) was one of the most influential art journals of the modern era, founded in Paris in 1938 as a platform for the greatest painters, sculptors, and writers of the 20th century. San Lazzaro, a visionary editor, critic, and champion of modernism, believed that art and literature should coexist as expressions of a shared human imagination. Under his direction, XXe Siecle became a cultural bridge between Europe and the wider world, publishing special issues devoted to leading figures such as Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Braque, Calder, Miro, Kandinsky, and Leger. Each edition combined essays by renowned critics and poets with original lithographs and woodcuts printed by the foremost ateliers of Paris, Milan, and New York, including Mourlot, Curwen, and Amilcare Pizzi, creating a uniquely rich dialogue between text and image. The 1960 issue, XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie, No. 14, showcased Daphnis et Chloe, one of Chagalls most celebrated lithographic subjects, coinciding with his work on the monumental suite of lithographs inspired by the same pastoral tale, published by Teriade. Through this publication, San Lazzaro further cemented Chagalls reputation as the modern poet of color and love, uniting myth, nature, and emotion in visual form. Today, XXe Siecle remains an essential record of 20th century modernism, celebrated for its seamless integration of fine art, literature, and design. About the Artist: Max Ernst (1891–1976) was a German-French painter, sculptor, printmaker, and poet whose groundbreaking imagination and experimental techniques made him one of the most revolutionary figures of 20th century art, a founding member of both Dada and Surrealism who dismantled traditional notions of art through chance, dream imagery, and psychological exploration; born in Bruhl, Germany, he studied philosophy and psychology at the University of Bonn before rejecting academic convention to pursue art, inspired by the Symbolists, Cubists, and the early abstractions of Pablo Picasso and Wassily Kandinsky; the trauma of World War I propelled him toward the Dada movement in Cologne in 1919, where he began creating collages that fused scientific diagrams and Victorian engravings into surreal dreamscapes; by 1922 he had moved to Paris and joined an avant-garde circle that included Picasso, Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray, and Andre Breton, each sharing his fascination with the irrational and the unseen; Ernsts invention of frottage (rubbing) and grattage (scraping) revolutionized modern painting by allowing chance to participate in creation, revealing hidden textures and subconscious imagery; his visionary paintings, such as The Elephant Celebes, Two Children Are Threatened by a Nightingale, and Europe After the Rain II, blend myth, science, and dream into symbolic landscapes that remain defining masterpieces of Surrealism; expanding into sculpture, he crafted enigmatic totemic forms such as Capricorne that bridge organic abstraction and surreal fantasy, echoing the equilibrium of Calders mobiles and the conceptual wit of Duchamp; fleeing Nazi-occupied France during World War II, he emigrated to the United States with the support of Peggy Guggenheim, influencing the emerging Abstract Expressionists, including Jackson Pollock, Robert Motherwell, and Willem de Kooning; returning to Europe after the war, he refined an alchemical, poetic approach to painting that inspired later artists such as Anselm Kiefer, Robert Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly, and Kiki Smith; represented in major museums including MoMA, the Tate, and the Centre Pompidou, Ernst remains a cornerstone of modern art whose limitless curiosity reshaped visual language. His highest auction record was achieved by Le roi jouant avec la reine (The King Playing with the Queen) (1944), which sold for approximately 24.4 million USD at Christies New York in November 2022. Max Ernst Coelacanthe XXe Siecle 1974, Max Ernst lithograph...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

La Dame Ovale - Vintage Rare Book Illustrated by Max Ernst - 1934
La Dame Ovale - Vintage Rare Book Illustrated by Max Ernst - 1934

La Dame Ovale - Vintage Rare Book Illustrated by Max Ernst - 1934

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

La Dame Ovale is an original modern rare book written by Mary Leonora Carrington (Chorley, Lancashire 1917 – Mexico City, 2011) and illustrated by Max Ernst (1891 - 1976) in 1934. Original edition. Published by GLM, Paris. 535 numbered copies. Format: small 8°. Seven full page collages. Unnumbered pages. Good conditions. Max Ernst in 1934. Originally a Dada activist in Germany, Max Ernst (1891 - 1976) became one of the early adherents of the Surrealist circle. As a child living in a small community near Cologne, Ernst had considered his existence incredible and full of wonders. In autobiographical transcripts, written mostly in the third person, he said of his birth: “Max Ernst had his first contact with the world of sense on the 2nd April 1891 at 9:45 a.m., when he emerged from the egg which his mother had laid in an eagle’s nest and which the bird had incubated for seven years”. Ernst’s service in the German army during World War I swept away his early success as an Expressionist. In his own words: “Max Ernst died on 1st August 1914. He returned to life on 11th November 1918, a young man who wanted to become a magician and find the central myth of his age. From time to time he consulted the eagle which had guarded the egg of his prenatal existence. The bird’s advice can be detected in his work”. Mary Leonora Carrington (Chorley, Lancashire 1917 – Mexico City, 2011). Carrington was a British-born Mexican artist, surrealist painter, and novelist. She lived most of her adult life in Mexico City and was one of the last surviving participants in the Surrealist movement of the 1930s. Carrington was also a founding member of the women's liberation movement in Mexico during the 1970s. In 1936 Leonora saw the work of the German surrealist...

Category

1930s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Paper, Photogravure

Scarabée Etching by Max Ernst, Surrealist, Signed, Edition 35/79, 1973

Scarabée Etching by Max Ernst, Surrealist, Signed, Edition 35/79, 1973

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Lithograph on Japan paper, realized in 1973. Image dimension 20.8x14.2 / Shee dimension 31.5x23.4 cm. Edition of 79. Hand signed and numbered 35/79. Color variant of the suppleme...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Etching

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

The Soldier's Ballad is a contemporary artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Mixed colored lithograph on Arches Paper Edited by Manus Presse, Stuttgart 1972. Not signed and not n...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

The Soldier's Ballad is a contemporary artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Mixed colored lithograph on Arches Paper Edited by Manus Presse, Stuttgart 1972. Not signed and not n...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

The Soldier's Ballad is a contemporary artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Mixed colored lithograph on Arches Paper. Edited by Manus Presse, Stuttgart 1972. Not signed and not ...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

The Soldier's Ballad is a contemporary artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Mixed colored lithograph on Arches Paper. Edited by Manus Presse, Stuttgart 1972. Not signed and not ...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Les Chiens Ont Soif, Surrealist Color Etching by Max Ernst
Les Chiens Ont Soif, Surrealist Color Etching by Max Ernst

Les Chiens Ont Soif, Surrealist Color Etching by Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Long Island City, NY

Max Ernst, German (1891 - 1976) - Les Chiens Ont Soif, Portfolio: Les Chiens Ont Soif, Year: 1964, Medium: Color Etching, signed in pencil lower right, Edition: 165/320, Image Si...

Category

1960s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Etching

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

The Soldier's Ballad is a contemporary artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Mixed colored lithograph on Arches Paper. Edited by Manus Presse, Stuttgart 1972. Not signed and not ...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Les Petits Soldats - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

Les Petits Soldats - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Les Petits Soldats is a contemporary artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Mixed colored lithograph on Arches Paper. Edited by Manus Presse, Stuttgart 1972. Not signed and not nu...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

The Soldier's Ballad is a contemporary artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Mixed colored lithograph on Arches Paper. Edited by Manus Presse, Stuttgart 1972. Not signed and not ...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Le Cathedrale - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

Le Cathedrale - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

The Soldier's Ballad is a contemporary artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Mixed colored lithograph on Arches Paper. Edited by Manus Presse, Stuttgart 1972. Not signed and not ...

Category

1970s Modern Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

The Soldier's Ballad is a contemporary artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Mixed colored lithograph on Arches Paper. Edited by Manus Presse, Stuttgart 1972. Not signed and not ...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst
Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Southampton, NY

Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, La Ballade du Soldat, 34 Lithographies Originales de Max Ernst, 1972. P...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst
Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Southampton, NY

Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, La Ballade du Soldat, 34 Lithographies Originales de Max Ernst, 1972. P...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst
Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Southampton, NY

Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, La Ballade du Soldat, 34 Lithographies Originales de Max Ernst, 1972. P...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Color lithograph realized by Max Ernst in 1974. Not signed. as issued. Printed by  Atelier Pierre Chave in Vence, France. Excellent condition.  This lithograph was realized  by th...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

The Soldier's Ballad is a contemporary artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Mixed colored lithograph on Arches Paper Edited by Manus Presse, Stuttgart 1972. Not signed and not n...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Lizards - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

Lizards - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Lizards is a contemporary artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Mixed colored lithograph on Arches Paper.  Edited by Manus Presse, Stuttgart 1972. Not signed and not numbered. Ed...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst
Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Southampton, NY

Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, La Ballade du Soldat, 34 Lithographies Originales de Max Ernst, 1972. P...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst
Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Southampton, NY

Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, La Ballade du Soldat, 34 Lithographies Originales de Max Ernst, 1972. P...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst
Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Southampton, NY

Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, La Ballade du Soldat, 34 Lithographies Originales de Max Ernst, 1972. P...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Les Malheurs des Immortels - Rare Book illustrated by Max Ernst - 1922
Les Malheurs des Immortels - Rare Book illustrated by Max Ernst - 1922

Les Malheurs des Immortels - Rare Book illustrated by Max Ernst - 1922

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Les Malheurs des Immortels révélés par Paul Eluard et Max Ernst. Collection of poems and prints Woodcuts. Uncut. Copy number 822 of 1300. This copy is printed on paper Madagascar.

Category

1920s Modern Max Ernst Art

Materials

Paper

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst
Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Southampton, NY

Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, La Ballade du Soldat, 34 Lithographies Originales de Max Ernst, 1972. P...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

The Soldier's Ballad is a contemporary artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Mixed colored lithograph on Arches Paper.  Edited by Manus Presse, Stuttgart 1972. Not signed and not...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst
Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Southampton, NY

Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, La Ballade du Soldat, 34 Lithographies Originales de Max Ernst, 1972. P...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst
Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Southampton, NY

Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, La Ballade du Soldat, 34 Lithographies Originales de Max Ernst, 1972. P...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst
Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

Composition (Spies/Leppien 218), La Ballade du Soldat, Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Southampton, NY

Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, La Ballade du Soldat, 34 Lithographies Originales de Max Ernst, 1972. P...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

The Soldier's Ballad - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

The Soldier's Ballad is a contemporary artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Mixed colored lithograph on Arches Paper. Edited by Manus Presse, Stuttgart 1972. Not signed and not ...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Sept Microbes - Rare Book - 1953

Sept Microbes - Rare Book - 1953

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Edition of 1100 copies. Copy on Marais une fleur paper. Includes 31 colorful, scale reproductions of original works by Ernst. French language. Binding partially detached. Very good c...

Category

1950s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Paper

Hölderlin: Poèmes Etching, Surrealist Style, Signed, 1961, Unframed
Hölderlin: Poèmes Etching, Surrealist Style, Signed, 1961, Unframed

Hölderlin: Poèmes Etching, Surrealist Style, Signed, 1961, Unframed

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

" Hölderlin: Poèmes " is a hand-signed etching realized by Max Ernst  in 1961. It presents very good conditions. Passepartout included: 49 x 34 cm. Bibliography: Catalog Brusberg n....

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Etching

Obliques Drypoint Etching, Surrealist, Signed, Edition of 57, 1967
Obliques Drypoint Etching, Surrealist, Signed, Edition of 57, 1967

Obliques Drypoint Etching, Surrealist, Signed, Edition of 57, 1967

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

"Obliques" is an etching hand-signed and numbered etching realized by Max Ernst in 1967. This is an edition of 57 prints. Passepartout included. Very good condition. Published by Ge...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Drypoint

Max Ernst's Zodiaque Etching, Surrealist, Signed, 1971, Edition of 100
Max Ernst's Zodiaque Etching, Surrealist, Signed, 1971, Edition of 100

Max Ernst's Zodiaque Etching, Surrealist, Signed, 1971, Edition of 100

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

" Zodiaque " is an etching realized by Max Ernst in 1971. This print is hand signed and numbered. This is an edition of 100 prints. Reference: Catalogue Spies n. 144. Originally a ...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Etching

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Pink Composition is an artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1974. Original colored lithograph. Good conditions. Printed by  Atelier Pierre Chave in Vence, France. This lithograph was ...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Idols - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

Idols - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Idols is a lithograph on Arches paper realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Belongs to the suite "Judith". Limited edition of 500. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Godd conditions. T...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Pink Composition is an original artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1974. Original colored lithograph. Very Good conditions. Printed by Atelier Pierre Chave in Vence, France. This li...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Color lithograph realized by Max Ernst in 1974. Not signed. as issued. Printed by  Atelier Pierre Chave in Vence, France. Excellent condition.  This lithograph was realized  by th...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Wunderhorn Lithograph, Surrealist Style, Signed 68/69, 1970s

Wunderhorn Lithograph, Surrealist Style, Signed 68/69, 1970s

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Wunderhorn is an artwork realized by Max Ernst, Lewis Carrolls,1970. Lithograph on Japon Paper, igned and numbered 68/69. Printed and published by Manues Press (Embossing Stamp). ...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

1963 exhibition poster by Max Ernst - 18 dessins de poche - Paris
1963 exhibition poster by Max Ernst - 18 dessins de poche - Paris

1963 exhibition poster by Max Ernst - 18 dessins de poche - Paris

By Max Ernst

Located in PARIS, FR

This elegant exhibition poster from 1963 announces a presentation of “18 dessins de poche” by Max Ernst, held at the Galerie Lucie Weill located near the Pont des Arts. The exhibitio...

Category

1960s Max Ernst Art

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

Après-moi le XX° siècle - Original Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1971
Après-moi le XX° siècle - Original Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1971

Après-moi le XX° siècle - Original Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1971

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Après-moi Le XX Siècle is an original artwork realized by Max Ernst in 1971. Original colored lithograph. Very good conditions. This lithograph is from the second issue, which wa...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

At Eye Level  Paramyths - Rare Book Illustrated by Max Ernst - 1949
At Eye Level  Paramyths - Rare Book Illustrated by Max Ernst - 1949

At Eye Level Paramyths - Rare Book Illustrated by Max Ernst - 1949

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

At Eye Level Paramyths is an original modern rare book illustrated by Max Ernst (1891 - 1976) and written by Various Authors in 1949. Original Edition, designed by Max Ernst as cat...

Category

1940s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Paper, Mixed Media

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Color lithograph realized by Max Ernst in 1974. Not signed. as issued. Printed by  Atelier Pierre Chave in Vence, France. Excellent condition.  This lithograph was realized  by th...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Oiseaux Souterrains, Signed Modern Bird Lithograph by Max Ernst
Oiseaux Souterrains, Signed Modern Bird Lithograph by Max Ernst

Oiseaux Souterrains, Signed Modern Bird Lithograph by Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Max Ernst, German (1891 - 1976) Title: Oiseaux Souterrains Year: 1975 Medium: Lithograph on Japon paper, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 99 Image Size: 13.5 x 24.5 inc...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Menorah - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

Menorah - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Menorah is a lithograph on Arches paper realized by Max Ernst in 1972. Belongs to the suite "Judith". Limited edition of 500. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Godd conditions. ...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Les Chiens Ont Soif Cover, Surrealist Lithograph by Max Ernst
Les Chiens Ont Soif Cover, Surrealist Lithograph by Max Ernst

Les Chiens Ont Soif Cover, Surrealist Lithograph by Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Long Island City, NY

Max Ernst, German (1891 - 1976) - Les Chiens Ont Soif Cover, Portfolio: Les Chiens Ont Soif, Year: 1964, Medium: Lithograph, Edition: 165/320, Image Size: 17 x 22 inches, Size: ...

Category

1960s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Le Point Cardinal Poster, Modern Poster by Max Ernst
Le Point Cardinal Poster, Modern Poster by Max Ernst

Le Point Cardinal Poster, Modern Poster by Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Long Island City, NY

Max Ernst, German (1891 - 1976) - Le Point Cardinal Poster, Year: 1964, Medium: Poster, Size: 24.25 x 16 in. (61.6 x 40.64 cm), Printer: Imprimerie Union, Description: From the ...

Category

1960s Modern Max Ernst Art

Materials

Offset

Les Chiens Ont Soif I, Surrealist Lithograph by Max Ernst
Les Chiens Ont Soif I, Surrealist Lithograph by Max Ernst

Les Chiens Ont Soif I, Surrealist Lithograph by Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Long Island City, NY

Max Ernst, German (1891 - 1976) - Les Chiens Ont Soif I, Portfolio: Les Chiens Ont Soif, Year: 1964, Medium: Lithograph, Edition: 165/320, Size: 17 x 24.5 in. (43.18 x 62.23 cm)...

Category

1960s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Les Chiens Ont Soif III, Surrealist Lithograph by Max Ernst
Les Chiens Ont Soif III, Surrealist Lithograph by Max Ernst

Les Chiens Ont Soif III, Surrealist Lithograph by Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Long Island City, NY

Max Ernst, German (1891 - 1976) - Les Chiens Ont Soif III, Portfolio: Les Chiens Ont Soif, Year: 1964, Medium: Lithograph, Edition: 165/320, Size: 17 x 24.5 in. (43.18 x 62.23 c...

Category

1960s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Les Chiens Ont Soif II, Surrealist Lithograph by Max Ernst
Les Chiens Ont Soif II, Surrealist Lithograph by Max Ernst

Les Chiens Ont Soif II, Surrealist Lithograph by Max Ernst

By Max Ernst

Located in Long Island City, NY

Max Ernst, German (1891 - 1976) - Les Chiens Ont Soif II, Portfolio: Les Chiens Ont Soif, Year: 1964, Medium: Lithograph, Edition: 165/320, Size: 17 x 24.5 in. (43.18 x 62.23 cm...

Category

1960s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

"Judith" by Jean Giraudoux
"Judith" by Jean Giraudoux

"Judith" by Jean Giraudoux

By Max Ernst

Located in Paris, FR

Illustrated Book, 1972 Handsigned by the artist in pencil and numbered 231/500 Publisher : Manus Presse (Stuttgart) Text in German illustrated with 6 lithographs by Max Ernst and 6 l...

Category

1970s Abstract Max Ernst Art

Materials

Illustration Board

Wallpaper

Wallpaper

By Max Ernst

Located in Paris, FR

Engraving, 1967 Handsigned by the artist in pencil and Annotated "Essay" Edition : 99 + HC Publisher : Georges Visat (Paris) Printer : Georges Visat (Par...

Category

1960s Abstract Max Ernst Art

Materials

Engraving

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Color lithograph realized by Max Ernst in 1974. Not signed. as issued. Printed by  Atelier Pierre Chave in Vence, France. Excellent condition.  This lithograph was realized  by th...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Color lithograph realized by Max Ernst in 1974. Not signed. as issued. Printed by  Atelier Pierre Chave in Vence, France. Excellent condition.  This lithograph was realized  by th...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Untitled, from: L'album des Demeures d'Hypnos / The Dwellings of Hypnos - French
Untitled, from: L'album des Demeures d'Hypnos / The Dwellings of Hypnos - French

Untitled, from: L'album des Demeures d'Hypnos / The Dwellings of Hypnos - French

By Max Ernst

Located in London, GB

This original lithograph is hand signed in pencil by the artist “Andre Masson” at the lower right margin. It is numbered in pencil 55 from the limited edition of 99 impressions at th...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Color lithograph realized by Max Ernst in 1974. Not signed. as issued. Printed by  Atelier Pierre Chave in Vence, France. Excellent condition.  This lithograph was realized  by th...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

Pink Composition - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1974

By Max Ernst

Located in Roma, IT

Color lithograph realized by Max Ernst in 1974. Not signed. as issued. Printed by  Atelier Pierre Chave in Vence, France. Excellent condition.  This lithograph was realized  by th...

Category

1970s Surrealist Max Ernst Art

Materials

Lithograph

Max Ernst art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Max Ernst art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, orange, pink and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Max Ernst in lithograph, etching, paper 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 art, so small editions measuring 5 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Théo Tobiasse, Man Ray, and Valton Tyler. Max Ernst art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $100 and tops out at $140,371, while the average work can sell for $1,297.
Questions About Max Ernst Art
  • 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertJanuary 10, 2025
    The meaning of Ubu Imperator is literally "The Commander." Max Ernst painted the work in 1923. The piece is an example of Ernst's transition from a Dadaist to a Surrealist style. Experts have provided various interpretations of the work, including as a satire of power, as it shows a human-like top spinning in a desert landscape. On 1stDibs, find an assortment of Max Ernst art.
  • 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.