Max Ernst (1891-1976) – a provocateur, a shocking and innovative artist who mined his unconscious for dreamlike imagery that mocked social conventions.
A soldier in WWI, his work was directly charged by the resulting deep trauma and highly critical view of western culture. These sentiments fed into his vision of the modern world as irrational, an idea that became the basis of his artwork. Ernst was a pioneer of both the Dada and Surrealist movements, employing his artistic vision, humor and verve in his captivating work. Having spent a majority of his life in France, he was categorized as an “enemy alien” during WWII and his work with the unconscious, his social commentary, and broad experimentation in both subject and technique remain influential.