Max Ernst

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A German artist who helped start Dada and used collage in his work

proper noun

: Max Ernst

Many art historians credit Max Ernst with popularizing the technique of collage in modern art.

Examples

Max Ernst was a leading figure in the Dada and Surrealist movements of the early twentieth century.
The Museum of Modern Art features several paintings by Max Ernst.
The famous artist Max Ernst was known for his surrealist works.
Max Ernst created innovative collages that challenged traditional art.
Max Ernst was a pioneering artist known for his contributions to Dadaism and Surrealism.
Art enthusiasts often recognize Max Ernst as a crucial figure in the evolution of modern art.
The gallery showcased a stunning exhibition of works by Max Ernst, highlighting his unique style.

Surface Forms

Max Ernst main

Morphology

Max + Ernst

This is a personal name (a named entity), so knowing the constituent words 'Max' and 'Ernst' does not allow a learner to infer the referent's identity, profession, or biographical details. Proper names are referential rather than compositional, so the MWE's meaning ('German painter and sculptor, cofounder of Dadaism') is not derivable from its parts.

Etymology

Max Ernst was a German painter and sculptor who often made strange, dreamlike pictures by cutting and joining bits of photos and paint into new images. Because he built surprising scenes from these bits, his name is linked to the 'Dada' and 'Surrealism' movements and to the 'collage' style.