Max Ernst

Max Ernst was a Surrealist captivated by the writings of Sigmund Freud, and so his works often feel dream-like and otherworldly. There is frequently a degree of uncertainty in his pieces, and the viewer is forced to question the nature of the subject. He manipulated motifs from the natural world, such as in Forest and Sun, to create perplexing images that, while familiar, seem to have been plucked from the artist’s subconscious. A similar effect is felt in Owl and Owl-Harlequin. Ernst’s work often featured birds, particularly nightingales and owls. Though he never fully explained the significance of birds in his oeuvre, he strongly identified with them and created an aviary alter ego named “Loplop” who was featured in many of his pieces. Perhaps these are not ordinary owls, but plucked from the subconscious, a self-portrait of the artist.