Andre Masson Untitled

Lithograph, 1940

Limited edition: 31/200

Paper size: 64.00 × 49.00 cm
(25.20 × 19.29 in.)

Signed by the artist in pencil
With certificate of authenticity
Good condition

Toning on paper

About the work

Created in 1940, this lithograph is a symbolic representation of the world of transformation and the unconscious that André Masson explored. The depicted portrait is not merely a representation of a person, but rather illustrates the continuous process of existence itself undergoing constant change.

Each strand of hair transforms into a bird, soaring lightly across the canvas. This fantastic motif seems to suggest a desire for freedom, the liberation of the spirit, and furthermore, that human existence is not fixed, but rather a "constantly generating being."

Masson's characteristic fluid lines constantly fluctuate without stabilizing forms, blurring the boundaries between dream and reality, living beings and space. His free composition strongly reflects the spirit of Surrealist automatism (automatic writing), where images welling up from the unconscious unfold naturally.

The historical context of 1940 also gives this work special significance. As the anxiety of war enveloped Europe, Masson did not escape from the real world, but instead explored the depths of human existence through the spiritual world and mythical imagery. The instability and sense of floating in this work resonate with the tension of that era.

Moreover, the bird motif is an important symbol that frequently appears in Masson's art. It represents freedom, transformation, the soul, or a longing for the infinite, imbuing the entire work with a poetic and mysterious atmosphere.

This work, which fuses human figures with fantastic transformations, is a captivating piece that strongly conveys André Masson's imagination and spirituality during his Surrealist period.