ƒ André Masson (1896-1987)
La tête de mort, 1927
Huile sur toile
Signée au dos
Oil on canvas
Signed on the reverse
38 x 46 cm - 15 x 18 1/8 in.

    Notes:
  • Provenance :
    Galerie Louise Leiris, Paris
    Richard Feigen Gallery, Chicago
    The Morton Neumann family collection
    Bibliographie :
    André Masson. Catalogue raisonné de l'œuvre peint, 1919-1941, Vaumarcus, Volume I, éditions ArtAcatos, 2010, Guite Masson, Martin Masson et Catherine Loewer, numéroté 1927 * 45 reproduit en noir et blanc page 347
    Exposition :
    Dada and Surrealism in Chicago collections, du 1er décembre au 27 janvier 1985, Musée d'Art contemporain de Chicago
    De 1923 à 1927 - en pleine époque surréaliste - André Masson réalise une série des dessins et tableaux dits « automatiques ». Ces œuvres sont fondées sur l'écoute et l'expression des pulsions inconscientes, sur l'automatisme et la fulgurance du geste. André Masson rompt dès lors avec les modes de création plastique habituels réalisant une étonnante production graphique. En effet, l'artiste emploie une gestuelle rapide, énergique et spontanée pour exprimer son sentiment du tragique, ses angoisses et ses révoltes. Dans notre œuvre réalisée en 1927, émerge de cette impulsion physique la représentation des ténèbres au centre de laquelle s'impose la figure de la mort.
    La tête de mort de 1927 est une œuvre rare et exceptionnelle puisque l'artiste ne réalisera que trois tableaux représentant la mort.
    From 1923 to 1927 - at the height of surrealism - André Masson made a series of drawings and paintings known as automatic drawings and paintings. Those works were based on the expression of subconscious mind, on automatism and on the immediacy of the gesture. André Masson got away from any traditional working processes. The artist used his energy and spontaneity to express his feelings. In this work (1927), he represented the world of darkness and death symbolized by the image of a skull. La tête de mort' ('the skull') of 1927 is a rare and unique painting since the artist only made three works dealing with death.

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