Max ERNST exhibits the titles of his latest works at Gala Éluard. 1927.

Max ERNST (1891.1976)

Autograph letter signed to Gala Éluard.

Four pages in-8°.

Without place or date. [Megève. 1927]

"Yes, the paintings still 'work'. I destroyed three of the ones you know and I have twelve very good ones. The subjects are always very simple and very precise."

Beautiful letter from Max Ernst to Gala. After the artist's two memorable exhibitions at the Van Leer Gallery in March 1926 and March 1927, Ernst returned to his lover about his works with “ always very simple and very precise subjects. »

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"My little girl, I must sadden you with stories of new excursions and beautiful weather such as we have not had a single day together. The day before yesterday, for example, I was on Mont-Joue [sic] (at about 2,000) and saw a blue sky so black that one could discern – in broad daylight – a few stars. So I had a frightening vision. There appeared horses [sic] and an enormous nose, all surrounded by a wide red ribbon of fire. It was the animal "the beautiful season" which had come there to take revenge on me. I fled, desperately [sic] . I also had to return to the Col d'Arbois where – naturally – according to their noble custom, the friends were […] Without Auguste and his little pot, because he is still suffering from the consequences of his vanity which had pushed him to make a superb failed jump on skis in front of all the ladies on the slope. He really fell flat on his face.

Yes, the "companions" have left [sic] ; Paul must have seen Baron at the Cyrano. Yes, the paintings still "work". I destroyed three of those you know and I have twelve very good ones. The subjects are always very simple and very precise. "2 young girls in beautiful poses and young man-double", "man walking on water, holding a young girl in his hand and jostling another", "the surprising shadow", "happy return from fishing", "what is happening at the seaside", "the wedding", "vision I had at the top of Mont-Joly", etc. etc.

I didn't know that Paul was also accused by Desnos. What's he got going on with Paul?

I'm going to start writing down my half-asleep visions this evening. I'd also like to see "Chaste Joseph" [La Révolution surréaliste] . It must be on the table in my studio. Anyway, I'll be back next week. I'm waiting for the money from Van Leer [the gallery owner Leonard Van Leer] so I can pay and leave (as you don't want to come back here, apparently).

Yes, my little girl, I love you very much and I was terribly happy to find your letter last night. AT your M.”

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At the beginning of 1927, Max Ernst explored in a series of paintings all the possibilities of frottage and scraping, techniques invented in 1925: "All these paintings [...] were executed during the winter in Megève [...]. They were the first examples of a new technique related to frottage. It consists of making light colors appear on a canvas prepared in advance and placed on an uneven surface (a piece of string for example), by means of a mason's spatula coated with darker colors, transparent lines. Simplicity itself! One must still know how to find signs in this optical game leading to unexpected interpretations" (Max Ernst, Écritures , 1970). Several of these works evoked the couple and love by borrowing their staging from Christian iconography.