Max Ernst

Max Ernst was a well known surrealist artist, who also (along with others) founded the Dada art movement. This was a protest against the horror of World War One and against conformist social attitudes of the time.

Max Ernst and Frottage
Frottage – was a technique he began to use extensively, and he is credited with being the first artist to use it, although I find it hard to believe this – I think he was probably the first well known artist to use frottage. Among other experimental techniques he used were decalcomania and collage. The term decalcomania - a method I hadn’t previously heard of, is one in which the artist transfers paint from one surface to another by pressing them together. Later on in his life his work became more abstract.
Many of the themes he used are disturbing, which makes his work oddly fascinating,  because they tend to have a profound effect on me.  Also,  now that I have some knowledge of the techniques he used to obtain his textural effects, the effect on me is to be able to appreciate his work that much more.

The Great Forest 1927

©The Bridgeman Art Library - London, New York, Paris. 

Here is a LINK to a quite illuminating video showing Max Ernst demonstrating his frottage technique