Max Ernst: A Retrospective (Art & Design) [Paperback]

Werner Spies (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Art & Design | Publication Date: October 1995

Born in Germany, Max Ernst spent more than 40 years of his life in France and lived in exile in America for over a decade. This study illustrates and assesses all aspects of one of the truly international artists of the 20th century. It also contains Max Ernst's full autobiographical notes. The extensive plate section includes works in all media and genres - painting, sculpture, works on paper, book illustration - and from all periods of the artist's career. In his analysis, Werner Spies examines the artist's creative energy that was fuelled by a continual dialogue between tradition and innovation. Although frequently associated with the Dada and Surrealist movements, Ernst's critical assessment of current styles ensured his independence from any particular trend. Other contributors, discuss the symbolism of his Surrealist imagery, the influence of romanticism and the Native American ethos on him, and his ties with England. Max Ernst's own "biographical notes", illustrated with documentary photographs and further examples of his work and interspersed with other writings by the artist, provide insights into his life and art and constitute a vivid autobiographical document. Werner Spies is the author of "Picasso's World of Children", "Pablo Picasso: The Path to Sculpture" and "Fernando Botero - Paintings and Drawings".

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is the catalog of a centennial retrospective of Ernst's work held at London's Tate Gallery and in Germany. Spies, the leading Ernst scholar, delivers a dense but accessible introduction to the artist's ideas and work, followed by 250 very good color plates, Ernst's own extensive biographical notes, and specialized essays by four other authors on particular aspects of Ernst's oeuvre. An excellent introduction to this complex and difficult genius of Dada and Surrealism, this book covers all periods of Ernst's rich history in detail. Key works not included in the exhibit are included in the plates, making this a more thorough survey than most exhibition catalogs (though Spies's complete catalog has already reached seven volumes). Highly recommended for all art collections.
- Jack Perry Brown, Ryerson & Burnham Libs., Art Inst . of Chicago
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Prestel Pub (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3791316214
• ISBN-13: 978-3791316215
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,128,743 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars For the money, terrific, April 18, 2011

By 

Stuart Pearson (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Max Ernst: A Retrospective (Prestel) (Hardcover)

You can't buy a single book and expect to get everything Ernst ever did - they number in the thousands. This is a great place to start, however. the reproductions are well done, the essays, although sometimes more opinion than fact, are all welcome. I wish there was a book that features the years Ernst spent with Carrington, since the things they created while in love with each other rank among their best works, but this isn't it.

Again, this is a great primer on Ernst the artist and it has a decent, if brief, life history written by Ernst himself.

Another book I would highly recommend is "DaDa" by Dickerman - although focused on DaDa in general during it's short but anarchic life, it features a large number of early Ernst pieces. And of course, Ernst's three collage books are necessities (and all for sale again!)