Max Ernst, 1891-1976

Max Ernst, one of the main exponents of Dadaism and Surrealism, had a defining influence on 20th century art. He was not only a painter, a sculptor and a graphic artist, he also worked with collage. His work is characterised by a tireless search for new expressive possibilities and new subject matter. He invented "frottage", a rubbing technique from which he was later to develop "grattage" (scratching). Birds are a recurring motif in his works. Brühl, the town where Ernst was born, opened a museum devoted to the artist in 2005, bringing together a substantial collection of his wide-ranging work. The Art Museum in Bonn has an extensive exhibition of his illustrated books and prints. A group of his works can be seen at the Sprengel Museum in Hannover. Museums in Berlin, Cologne and Stuttgart and the Saarland Museum in Saarbrücken also own important works by Max Ernst.