Celebrating Dadaist and Surrealist Max Ernst and his Love of Nature, Leonora Carrington, and Early Mornings in the Garden

"Max created a technique called frottage or texture rubbings or rubbing on paper - and he used plants or the texture of wood planks and other items in the house to create some fantastic artwork."

April 2, 1891 

On this day, the German-American-and-French painter, sculptor, printmaker, poet, Dadaist, and Surrealist Max Ernst was born.

He sketched the gardens at Bruhl castle - the castle of his hometown.

Some of his most beautiful works involved flowers, forests, suns, birds, and gardens.

 

Max had no formal training.

Yet, he created a technique called frottage or texture rubbings or rubbing on paper - and he used plants or the texture of wood planks and other items in the house to create some fantastic artwork.

He also made grattage or scraping paint across the canvas to reveal the objects' imprints beneath it.

 

At one point in his life, Max lived with the surrealist painter Leonora Carrington.

They loved going into the garden in the early mornings to find inspiration.

Leonora reflected on their appreciation of their special times in the garden. 

We went down into the silent garden.

Dawn is the time when nothing breathes, the hour of silence.

Everything is transfixed, only the light moves.

 

Max once remarked:

Art has nothing to do with taste. Art is not there to be tasted.

 

Max was not comfortable with his fame.

He once lamented about himself,

[I] would rather have a single wild strawberry, than all the laurels in the world.


This post was featured on
The Daily Gardener podcast:

helping gardeners find their roots,
one story at a time
Max Ernst Portrait
Max Ernst Portrait
Max Ernst with Leonora Carrington
Max Ernst with Leonora Carrington
Max Ernst with rocking horse
Max Ernst with rocking horse
Max Ernst on rooftop with dog
Max Ernst on rooftop with dog
Max Ernst with Sculpture
Max Ernst with Sculpture

Leave a Comment