Metamorphoses 1961

Andre Masson made this print, ‘Metamorphoses’ with ink on paper. Oh, look at the frenetic energy of the lines, they seem to crawl across the surface, groping for form, the inky blacks and murky greys create this really turbulent, uneasy feeling. I can almost feel the artist’s hand moving restlessly, trying to capture some fleeting vision or emotion. Masson was part of the Surrealist movement, so I imagine he was trying to tap into the unconscious. I think this work is so interesting in relation to other surrealist artists such as Miro and Dali, because we get to witness the struggle and energy of the artist as he makes his work. There's a real sense of process here, like we're seeing the artist thinking through the act of creation. I can almost see Masson scratching away, lost in thought, letting his intuition guide him. In the end, this piece reminds us that art is an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas across time.