ABOUT THE WORK

In 1938, Max Ernst left the Surrealist Group in Paris and moved with Leonora Carrington to Saint-Martin d'Ardèche, where he spent over a year decorating their home with murals and bas-reliefs in cement. One of these works, L'Entrée des fantômes, reflects his fascination with primitive and tribal art, incorporating totemic forms and influences from Cycladic and Native American sculpture. Ernst’s approach, inspired by sculptors like Brancusi and Picasso, resulted in a uniquely imaginative and playful reinterpretation of these artistic traditions.

This sculpture was first cast in 1990 from the original 1938-1939 cement work at the house in Saint-Martin d'Ardèche, France, with a total edition of 12 casts signed, dated and numbered from 1/8 - 8/8 and I/IV to IV/IV.