ANDRÉ MASSON

André Masson, French Surrealist artist and pioneer of Automatism, is recognized as a crucial bridge between European Surrealism and American Abstract Expressionism.

• Known as: French Surrealist artist
• Born: January 4, 1896, Balagny-sur-Thérain, France
• Birthname: André-Aimé-René Masson
• Date of death: October 28, 1987

André Masson studied painting in Brussels and Paris. At 18, he was called up to fight and was badly wounded in the first battles of the First World War. This seriously affected his psyche, and he became negative and pessimistic about the nature of being and the meaning of life.

In the 1920s he was influenced by Cubism; when he met Joan Miró, he became more interested in Automatism and Surrealism. He exhibited with the Surrealists but like so many of the group he argued bitterly with the autocratic leader André Breton and ceased to be a Surrealist.

From 1934-36 he lived in Spain and then after the Nazis condemned his work as degenerate moved to the US from 1940-45. It is possible to say that the link between Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism could be called André Masson because of this move.

When he returned to France in 1945 he settled in Provence. He also wrote extensively and worked as a stage designer.

His work is in many French museums.

All images © Estate of André Masson

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