Original Vintage Early Surreal Max Ernst Manner American Dada Decalcomania Grattage Frottage Gesso Mixed Media Artwork Composition
Original vintage mixed media surreal Dada composition incorporating decalcomania, grattage, and frottage surreal school techniques, sealed on a masonite board, in the manner/school of surrealist, Max Ernst. The subject resembles an early painting by Salvador Dali with a melting lock/clock, and the abstract technique appears to look like human organs within the chest; with a heart/etc; the result is visually stunning. This piece highly intricate with a highly detailed master technique distinctly that of Max Ernst's invention. The frottage technique appears as though graphite/pencil was used, in addition to the paint in the decalcomania composition. The composition has various levels of texture, as well, reflecting the grattage and frottage techniques, throughout the entire piece. There are two spirals, circles within the middle of the piece, that are impressed, that show another layer beneath the layers of paint and top layer of thick clear glaze, that show the middle of the composition to be of a plaster, or gesso. When this surreal composition was found, there was a layer of white cardboard, that had foil stuck on the other side which was stuck to the top of the composition (appeared to have been melted, previously), to the top layer. This caused the round impressions in the middle; obviously at least in part intentional by the artist in technique; but unknown if the artist believed this to be a lost cause at the time, and gave up, after the cardboard/foil stuck to the top. When found, this layer of white cardboard with foil, was carefully removed, and the art was discovered beneath. (The artist's clear glaze seal on the top, had made the composition almost waterproof, while the glued foil cardboard, was not) The composition was perfectly preserved, and there is no missing paint, due to artist's thick, clear seal of composition. The entire piece is sealed to a masonite board, on the very bottom. There have only been trace illegible markings located, on reverse. No signature has been found or identified. Composition is estimated to have been created approximately 1945, or possibly earlier. Due to the highly detailed mastered manner of this composition painting, with incorporations of a highly advanced dadaist, using frottage, grattage, within a highly complex decalcomania composition, this painting is listed in the manner of dada artist, Max Ernst, whom was the only artist that was proficient enough to use this technique with mastery, with many similar comparison subject paintings and drawings by the artist. With Miró's help, Ernst pioneered the technique of grattage.
Grattage is a surrealist painting technique that involves laying a canvas prepared with a layer of oil paint over a textured object and then scraping the paint off to create an interesting and unexpected surface.
The technique was invented by surrealist artist Max Ernst. Having prepared a canvas using grattage, Ernst would then work back into the painting, responding to the unexpected marks and shapes created by the texture. You will see the grattage in this composition, through-out, and most evident in the third image.
Grattage, a French word which translates as ‘scraping’, was developed from another similar technique used by Ernst called frottage.
Frottage is a surrealist and ‘automatic’ method of creative production that involves creating a rubbing of a textured surface using a pencil or other drawing material.
The technique was developed by Max Ernst in drawings made from 1925. Frottage is the French word for rubbing. Ernst was inspired by an ancient wooden floor where the grain of the planks had been accentuated by many years of scrubbing. The patterns of the graining suggested strange images to him. From 1925 he captured these by laying sheets of paper on the floor and then rubbing over them with a soft pencil. The results suggest mysterious forests peopled with bird-like creatures and Ernst published a collection of these drawings in 1926 titled Histoire Naturelle (natural history).
Reference: www.Tate.org
links: http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/f/frottage
http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/g/grattage
Max Ernst, Manner of
(1891-1976)
Dada Composition- Oil Paint, Gesso, Graphite, Masonite Board, Varnish; Grattage, Frottage, Decalcomania composition
Dada Composition measures approximately 20" X 24"
Very good condition. There are a couple of nicks on two portions along the side. All paint is original to the composition
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