Short Biography

Andre Masson

André Masson (1896-1987) was one of the most important French painters connected with Surrealism. A close friend of André Breton, Joan Miró, and Max Ernst, he joined the Surrealist movement in the early 20s, then disassociated himself from it in the early 30s, focusing instead on a wild, symbolic interpretation of the forces of nature as well as the human condition with its fundamental impulses of love and hatred. Masson had been badly injured in the First World War, an experience which affected him deeply and coloured his depiction of violence as a powerful generative and destructive force running through nature. He was in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, where his work reflected the pain of that conflict as well as an intense interest in Spanish culture. In the early 40s, Masson moved to America and became interested in mythical imagery. Many of his paintings from this period are influenced by African American and Native American myths, and the style of his expression, particularly his adherence to Surrealist automatism, influenced many young American painters including Arshile Gorky.



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