Painted Poetry

A study of the complex journey of a master

Max Ernst (1891-1976) transformed everything he touched with unparalleled artistic originality. He became one of the most important figures of Dadaism and Surrealism, pushing the boundaries of art and breaking with the limited view of the culture of his time. Driven by the reaction to the horrors of World War I, he became a pioneer of the Dada movement. The cancellation of the famous Dada exhibition in Cologne for obscenity led Ernst to spend the rest of his life in Paris, where he came into contact with the Surrealists.

Above all, Ernst is notable for the variety of styles and techniques he employed. His work ranged from painting, drawing and sculpture, through texts and stage designs, to collage novels and the development of his own frottage technique. During the Second World War, Ernst, like many of his colleagues, became an undesirable foreigner and was forced to emigrate, although he returned to France after the war. He went on to develop a career that spanned decades, and in 1954 he received the Grand Prix for Painting at the Venice Biennale.

This book is a journey through magic, intensity and fantasy. It is a gateway into the mind and complex world of Max Ernst.

About the author

Ulrich Bischoff is an art historian and writer. From 1994 to 2013, he directed the New Masters Gallery belonging to the State Art Collections in Dresden. He has published numerous writings in the fields of classical modernity and contemporary art.

Publisher: Taschen