André Masson

André Masson was a French painter and printmaker who played a major role in the development of Surrealism. He was born in Balagny-sur-Thérain, France, and spent much of his childhood traveling around Europe with his family. In 1913, he moved to Paris to study at the École des Beaux-Arts, but his studies were interrupted by World War I. During the war, Masson served in the French army and was wounded in battle.

After the war, Masson returned to Paris and became involved in the Surrealist movement, along with artists such as Max Ernst and Joan Miró. Masson's early work was influenced by the automatic drawing techniques of Surrealism, which allowed him to tap into his unconscious mind and create images that were rich in symbolism and metaphor.

In the 1930s, Masson's work became more abstract and he began to experiment with different techniques such as frottage (rubbing textured materials to create images) and grattage (scratching and scraping the surface of the canvas). These techniques allowed him to create images that were highly textured and layered, while still retaining the dreamlike quality of his earlier work.

During World War II, Masson fled France and spent several years in the United States, where he became friends with artists such as Jackson Pollock and Robert Motherwell. While in America, he continued to produce work that was highly experimental and innovative, and he became known as one of the leading figures of the Abstract Expressionist movement.

After the war, Masson returned to France and continued to work as an artist until he died in 1987. His work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world, and he is widely regarded as one of the most important artists of the 20th century. Masson's focus on the unconscious mind and the use of automatic techniques helped to revolutionize the art world and paved the way for future generations of artists.