Bio: Born in Germany in 1891. Ernst is a leading
figure of Dada and Surrealist Movements; an artist with a vast
range of techniques.
After his wartime service in 1918 he began to develop his own
style of collages although he exhibited his first painting at
the German Autumn Salon of 1913. During the early 1920's Ernst
invented what was called frottage; pencil rubbings on paper
and on
canvas.
Ernst developed a fascination with birds and this became a
recurrent theme in his work.
In 1936 Ernst met the surrealist artist Leonora Carrington and
lived with her until 1940 when he was arrested by the Nazis.
Carrington went to Spain hoping to obtain a visa for Ernest,
but whilst there she suffered a mental breakdown. Upon his
release from Prison Camp Ernest met Peggy Guggenheim who
arranged for Ernst's escape from France and passage to
America.
In 1942 Guggenheim and Ernst were married although it did not
last and in 1956 he married Dorothea Tanning. Ernest continued
living in the USA until 1953 when he returned to Paris. In
1954 he won the Venice Biennale and from this point gained
some financial success.
Ernest was acquainted with Paul Klee, collaborated with
Joan Miro and had a lifelong friendship with Jean Arp.