HE 2nd of April (1891) at 9:15 a.m. Max Ernst had his first contact with the sensible world, when he came out of the egg which his mother had laid in an eagle’s nest and which the bird had brooded for seven years. Some Data on the Youth of M.E , As Told by Himself.1942
Ernst had a talent for self-mythologising as the above quotes shows. At various times he was Dadamax or Loplop, the Superior of the Birds. His work retains to a remarkable degree a sense of mystery, we feel like we are on the verge of understanding yet we pause and begin to doubt; the answer to the enigma has escaped us and remains as elusive as ever.
Monday’s Ernst, the 1923’s Of This Men Shall Know Nothing (Ernst had a talent for titles) is a excellent example of the cryptic nature of Ernst’s art. Is it a pictorial representation of a Freudian case study, an illustration of alchemical and esoteric doctrine, or a prophetic declaration of the coming of Surrealism? The inscription on the back of painting, ‘This painting is curious because of its symmetry. The two sexes balance one another.’ would seem to point to esotericism, as one of the key tenets of the occult world-view is the reconciliation of opposites; Sun and Moon, Day and Night, Male and Female. Yet the partial eclipse where the moon seems to be gaining ascendancy could signify the rise of Surrealism and the reclamation of the rights of the unconscious and irrationality. Loplop, the Superior of the Birds, sings the answer to the riddle, but although we admire the beauty of the song, remain none the wiser.
I’m the last person to claim to possess knowledge in terms of art. I just know what I like, and none of the history. So I hope I so not day anything wrong… But I love all the ‘almost’ invisibility of the threads connecting everything into orbits of time in this. Synchronicity comes to mind, and I love it!
Very nice post. π
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Thank you… I love Max Ernst obviously and he is excellent and being very allusive and elusive
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You are most welcome and I do believe you’re right! π Thank you for sharing.
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So I don’t feel so silly commenting on a post I merely liked previously. I’m always in awe of how deep your well of knowledge on these particular subjects. I’m drawn to the lines that connect the images. I wonder … is it just a way to connect the imagery? And balance between the opposites – the transition he must have felt bridging Dada with Surrealism. Although… come to think of it, he wouldn’t have been aware of it, would he? When were the lines drawn, the death of one and the emergence of the other?
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The rebirth more like, Dada had to transform to continue. Thank you, I find these a particularly striking image with a lot going on yet with an elegant simplicity.
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It is striking. All the bold colors and distinct lines.
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Sacred geometry
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Really… so there is symbolism to all these structures, then?
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You should know that everything in Cakeland means something…. if not rationally then by analogy or unconsciously
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By the artist’s intent or in the mind of Cake. Or either and both all at the same time.
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That is a vexed question, I would like to think in the artists but it could just be my wrong headed conclusions.
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Don’t be vexed with me. I’m teasing you!
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I didn’t say I was vexed with you, I said it was a vexed question. I am glad you are teasing, because sometimes I do not know where the mystification ends.
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I know you and the way you make connections…. all the little pieces of one big intricate whole
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By analogy, fuck rationality and the Enlightenment.
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Well they weren’t very much fun now were they? So yes, lets
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I will make a mystic out of you yet… which is funny as an astrologer for one of the newspapers over here was called Mystic Meg.
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Oh that is really funny! Hmm well, I do have mystic potential I think.
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With my guidance
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Well who else would I consult? π
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Thanks OK time to get some ideas… the writer is working that means I’m going to get some sleep
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Very well. Goodnight Cake!
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Only me
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Exactly right
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You know it to be true
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I do. Do you?
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I believe so
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Huh. Interesting. I saw the faint lines almost like balloon strings holding the limbs, sun, moon, attached to the earth, maybe even keeping the towers upright. It gives movement and animation to the piece in my eyes.
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It does have a mobile like effect.
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I don’t know what it means, but I know that it means something. Dali (I hope).
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Which I think is a paraphrase from Humpty Dumpty in Through the Looking Glass, about Jabberwocky, itself a fine example of abstract, nonsense art.
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Ah: ” ‘Twas brillig … and the slime-ridden rogues \ did gyre and cycle through the paint / a splash over here, a dash over there: \ painting it surely ain’t!”
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Is that your creation
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Alex: what a question! I wrote it specially for you.
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Thank you Roger it made me laugh and it is excellent. I love Carroll.
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I guess I could go Crazy Horse and gallop it a bit further. It’s not really my style, but it’s probably got legs.
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Yes it has many legs
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Forgot to say that I love the painting. Much foreboding.
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Ernst is one of my favourite artists and one who maintained high quality throughout the various phases of his long career, which is very rare.
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It looks like it should be hanging about the crib of the child of whatever race of aliens conquers the earth. I like his story of his birth. What a weirdo. Lol. π
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That is truly shocking Vic using this as a babies mobile.he was weird but at home with his strangeness. It doesn’t seem affect or forced.
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I like weird, so that’s cool with me. π
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Very cool
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Don’t forget Cake the one thing that men shall never know; and which was still very much taboo even in the world of surrealism in the 20’s.. menstruation.
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The lunar cycles.
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