“Le mistral”, Andre Masson (1896-1987)
(One among a vast collection of postcards amassed by an artist over sixty years ago, and stored in a wooden box).
“Has there ever been – I ask the question – a great painter who found himself in love? Not only with painting, but even more so with the human and the universal?”, Andre Masson, “Du point ou je suis”
André Masson (1896-1987) was a prominent French painter, sculptor, and one of the leading figures in the Surrealist movement.
Born in Balagny-sur-Thérain, a town north of Paris, he initially studied painting at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. During World War I, Masson served as a soldier and was injured severely. His early works show an interest in cubism. But this experience greatly influenced his art and led him to develop an interest in Surrealism.
In the 1920s, Masson became linked to Surrealist artists like André Breton and Joan Miró. He collaborated with other artists like Salvador Dalí and Max Ernst. His paintings were characterized by their automatic techniques, dreamlike imagery, and exploration of the subconscious mind.
Throughout his career, Masson experimented with various mediums including drawing and sculpture. Around 1926, he began experimenting with throwing sand and glue onto canvas, creating oil paintings inspired by the resulting shapes.
He was known for advocating automatic art. This technique involves allowing the hand to move freely across the canvas without conscious planning. It aims to reveal thoughts and images from the subconscious mind.
“Rooster”, Andre Masson (1896-1987)
But by the end of the 1920s, he left the surrealist movement. He turned instead to a more structured style. He often produced works with a violent or erotic theme. And his work evolved over time to include more abstract elements. Yet, it still retains his signature themes of unconscious creativity and free association.
Under the German occupation of France during World War II, his work was condemned by the Nazis as degenerate. He escaped the Nazi regime on a ship to the French island of Martinique. From there, he went on to the United States.
Living in New Preston, Connecticut, his work became an important influence on American abstract expressionists, like Jackson Pollock.
After the war, he returned to France and settled in Aix-en-Provence where he painted several landscapes.
His contributions to modern art were widely recognized during his lifetime through many exhibitions and accolades.
André Masson’s legacy continues to inspire generations of artists worldwide. His innovative approach to artistic expression within the Surrealist movement remains influential.
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