Forest and Sun (from the 'Histoire Naturelle' or 'Histoires Naturelles' series)
Print on paper, likely a lithograph or frottage-based etching • Max Ernst (1891–1976)
Style & Movement
Surrealism
Medium & Technique
Color lithography or etching using the frottage/grattage technique to capture wood grain and natural textures
Creation Period
Mid-20th Century (circa 1950s-1960s)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 x 9 inches (composition); Portrait orientation
Subject Description
An abstract forest scene featuring a circular sun or bird-like eye motif amidst rhythmic, wood-grain patterns typical of Ernst's natural history themes. The composition uses organic textures to evoke a sense of a primordial or hallucinatory landscape.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; visible light-staining from acidic matting and slight buckling of the paper support
Estimated Market Value
$1,500 - $3,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$1,000 - $2,500 USD
Provenance History
Likely sourced from a limited edition portfolio or a mid-century print collection; no specific labels visible, but the matting suggests 20th-century residential display.
Art Historical Significance
A representative example of Ernst's innovative use of frottage (rubbing) to explore the subconscious and 'automatic' creation. It reflects his lifelong fascination with forests as symbols of the psyche and his 'Histoire Naturelle' series which reinterpreted the natural world through Surrealist eyes.
Notable Features
The distinctive wood-grain texture achieved through physical rubbings of floorboards or timber, a hallmark of Max Ernst's Surrealist output; the 'bird-eye' sun motif which is a recurring iconographic element in his work.
Condition Issues
Evidence of 'mat burn' (yellowing around the edges of the image where it meets the mat board), potential minor foxing, and surface undulation due to humidity changes.
Conservation Recommendations
Remove from current acidic matting immediately; professional deacidification and cleaning by a paper conservator; remount using archival, acid-free museum board and UV-protective glazing.