Le Grand amoureux I [The Great Lover I]
About this artwork
The precise meanings of many of Ernst’s paintings are intentionally obscure. He was far more interested in poetic suggestion, mystery and ambiguity than in literal interpretations. This painting relates to another work called ‘The Inquisitor: at 7.07am Justice Shall be Done’. A comparison between the two paintings shows that the bowler-hatted man is holding a female figure, whose breasts are clearly visible, but whose head has developed into a curved shape. While the man emerges out of an imposing block-like structure, the small female shape he gently holds resembles a metronome. On the left of the painting, Ernst has used the technique of grattage to create texture.
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title:Le Grand amoureux I [The Great Lover I]
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accession number:GMA 2134
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materials:Oil and black crayon on canvas
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date created:1926
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measurements:100.30 x 81.20 cm (framed: 111.10 x 91.70 x 6.20 cm)
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credit line:Purchased 1980
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copyright:© ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2018
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photographer:Antonia Reeve
Max Ernst
Max Ernst
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…