Wood and Blue Moon
Summary
An abstract scene that suggests three tree trunks growing towards a full moon. Three vertical forms created in a woodgrain effect reach up towards a blue circle at the centre, which is slightly severed by the upper edge of the work. There is a red shape in a wood knot to the right of the composition and a yellow shape to the bottom left. Wood and trees were important artistic stimuli for Ernst. As a child he was taken on forest walks by his father and patterns in the grain of his bedstead led to dreams. Later he developed a technique called frottage by which he would take rubbings of bare floorboards to inspire the imaginary compositions of finished works. Here he echoes frottage with lithographic crayon to depict blasted trees that resemble female torsos.
Display Label
Wood and Blue Moon 1960 Max Ernst 1891-1976 Lithograph on paper Wood and trees were important artistic stimuli for Ernst. As a child he was taken on forest walks by his father and patterns in the grain of his bedstead led to dreams. Later he developed a technique called frottage, by which he would take rubbings off bare floorboards to inspire the imaginary compositions of finished works. Here he echoes frottage with lithographic crayon to depict blasted trunks that resemble female torsos. Purchased 1960.124
Object Name
Wood and Blue Moon
Creators Name
Date Created
1960
Dimensions
support: 54.9cm x 44.5cm
accession number
1960.124
Collection Group
Place of creation
Europe
Support
paper
Medium
ink (black)
ink (blue)
ink (red)
ink (yellow)
Legal
© ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2009