Conjugal Diamonds 1925

Max Ernst made Conjugal Diamonds, a small drawing, with graphite. You can really feel the grain of the paper. It is evident that he is letting the marks suggest the image. He has produced an otherworldly character, perhaps a strange bird like figure, in an economical way. There's this real contrast in texture between the smooth, almost mechanical lines that construct the figures body, and the scratchy, more frenzied marks that surround it. See how the hatching creates volume, and how the different pressures make the lines darker or lighter, adding depth and shadow. The marks almost have a life of their own. This is a drawing that is about both control and letting go. I love Ernst's playful approach, it reminds me of the work of Francis Picabia. Both artists have a similar way of challenging our perceptions of reality. Art is a game, a constant back and forth between intention and accident.