Max Ernst
La Femme au parapluie [Woman with Umbrella]about 1921On Display | DEAN GALLERY
This small painting is closely related to collages in which Ernst combined elements from advertisements and patterns for women's clothing and accessories. Details have been incised into the paint with a pointed instrument. Ernst's emphasis on the rolled umbrella, high-heeled boots and tailored gloves is almost fetishistic. It also shows the influence of the German Symbolist artist Max Klinger, whose work Ernst admired. The painting has an aura of illicit sexual tension. Uncomfortably crammed into a small space, attention is focused on the girl's legs and skirt and the open door suggests a stolen view.
Glossary [2] Open
Collage
An image constructed from found materials, such as photographs, paper or fabric, glued to a surface, sometimes with additional painted or drawn elements. It is an art form particularly associated with Dada and Surrealism.
Symbolism
The representation of subjects or ideas by use of a device or motif to create underlying meaning. A literary and artistic movement that originated in France and spread through much of Europe in the late 19th century. There was no consistent style but rather an appeal to the idea of the artist as mystic or visionary and the desire to express a world beyond superficial appearances.
- Accession no. GMA 3970
- Medium Gouache, crayon and pencil on printed paper, laid on card
- Size 16.50 x 10.50 cm
- Credit Bequeathed by Gabrielle Keiller 1995
Max Ernst (German / American / French, 1891 - 1976)
German-French painter Ernst was born near Cologne in Germany. After studying philosophy at university he turned his attention to art, and became the leader of the Cologne Dada group in 1919. He moved to Paris in 1922 to work with the Surrealists, adapting the techniques of collage and photomontage for use by the group. He worked in a range of media throughout his artistic career, producing work that was irregular, experimental and highly imaginative. The Gallery has an excellent collection of his work, including eleven paintings and collages as well as drawings, prints and illustrated books.
Glossary [5] Open
Collage
An image constructed from found materials, such as photographs, paper or fabric, glued to a surface, sometimes with additional painted or drawn elements. It is an art form particularly associated with Dada and Surrealism.
Dada
A radical artistic and literary movement that was a reaction against the cultural climate that supported the First World War. The Dadaists took an anti-establishment attitude, questioning art's status and favouring performance and collage over traditional art techniques. Many Dadaists went on to become involved with Surrealism.
Photomontage
The combination of two or more photographs (or pieces of them) to form a single image.
An image pressed or stamped onto paper or fabric. This encompasses a wide variety of techniques, usually produced in multiples, although one-off prints, known as monoprints, are also included. The term is also applied to photographic images.
Surrealism
A literary and artistic movement founded by the poet André Breton in 1924. Many of the associated artists, such as Max Ernst and Jean Arp, had previously been involved with Dadaism. The movement sought to challenge conventions through the exploration of the subconscious mind, invoking the power of dreams and elements of chance. Cultural hierarchies were challenged by the combination of diverse elements in collages and sculptural assemblages. The movement is also notable for the collaborations between artists and writers evident in the Surrealists' many publications.