Born in 1896 in Balagny-sur- Thérain, a small village in France, André Masson spent most of his youth in Brussels, Belgium working as a pattern maker at an embroidery atelier. Masson began his schooling in 1907 at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. In 1912, he relocated to Paris, where he attended the École des Beaux-Arts. In 1914, the artist was called to military duty for the First World War, where he was severely wounded and sent back to Paris. Much of Masson’s work is influenced by this trauma; his drawings and paintings executed during the 1920s represent battle scenes, blood, death, birds and fish. The strange realities of trench warfare and the immediate contiguity of life and death are drawn upon, and his imagery suggests a confrontation of life at an abnormal level of experience. His signature style deals with violence, evident in terrifying, fragmented figures, which reflect the horrors of the Spanish Civil War and WWII, as well as his troubled psyche in the aftermath of his service in WWI.
After WWI, Masson moved to the South of France, where he met Juan Gris, André Derain, Joan Miró and André Breton. Breton championed the Surrealist Manifesto and Masson joined in the group exhibition of the first Surrealists. An iconoclast, whose abrupt stylistic transitions defy classification, Masson also explored automatism (automatic drawing), a process that sought to express the creative force of the unconscious. These automatic drawings had no preconceived subject or composition. Like a medium channeling a spirit, Masson let his pen travel rapidly across the paper without conscious control. He soon found hints of images, fragmented bodies and objects, emerging from the abstract, lacelike web of pen marks. At times, Masson elaborated on these with conscious changes or additions, but he left the traces of the rapidly drawn ink mostly intact. Masson’s oeuvre explores several techniques of painting, drawing and sculpture and displays rich, colorful abstraction as well as monochrome imagery and automatic linear representations. An early Surrealist and student of Cubism, Masson went on to inspire the New York Abstract Expressionists. Masson developed a technique of automatic painting that retained the element of chance; he dripped glue onto paper to form drawings and then covered it with sand. These ‘sand paintings’ are unquestionably his most iconic style.
When Masson emigrated to the U.S. in 1939, he strongly influenced several American painters with this technique, the most evident example being Jackson Pollack. After his time in America, he returned to Europe and while living in Spain during the mid-1930s, he became enraptured with Spanish themes—bullfights, matadors and Spanish mythology. Masson finally settled down in France (Aix-en-Provence), where he took up a late interest in impressionistic landscape, but he ultimately came to a place where he painted nearly exclusively abstract images. Masson dedicated his life as an artist to encouraging the non-rational purpose in art, to the direct transference of subconscious thought and to the primal forces of conflicts that he experienced in the trenches of World War One. Masson sought to convey in his work a deeper reality of man’s behavior, his own complex personal imagery, and his belief that painting is not a matter of developing style but a part of life itself.
OPriginal lithograph by André Masson in 1962 for the XVIII Salon de Mai
By André Masson
Located in PARIS, FR
This striking original lithograph, created by André Masson in 1962 for the XVIIIe Salon de Mai, stands as a bold testament to the Surrealist master's lyrical abstraction and dreamlik...
Paper, Lithograph
Pompeii V, Surrealist Lithograph by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - Pompeii V, Year: 1953, Medium: Lithograph and Chine Colle on Arches, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: Epreuve d'Artiste, Image Size: 9 ...
Lithograph
Hills and Valleys, Surrealist Lithograph by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - Hills and Valleys, Portfolio: Dessins Erotiques, Year: 1971, Medium: Lithograph on Arches, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 23/125, Im...
Lithograph
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Composition, Poèmes insoumis, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Poêmes insoumis, 1963. Published by Marc Barbezat, Paris; ...
Lithograph
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Composition, Poèmes insoumis, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Poêmes insoumis, 1963. Published by Marc Barbezat, Paris; ...
Lithograph
$1,356Sale Price|20% Off
Andre Masson, Untitled, from The Seventh Song, 1974
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite engraving by Andre Masson (1896–1987), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the folio Le septieme chant, la mort d'Isidore Ducasse, Jeudi 24 Bovembre 1870, 7 Rue du Faub...
Engraving
Faune et Femme au Armure - Etching by André Masson - 1966
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Image dimensions: 30x24 cm. Edition of 50 prints, numbered and hand signed by the Artist. Excellent conditions. Insurance may be requested by customers as additional service, contac...
Etching
La Venitienne, Surrealist Lithograph by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - La Venitienne from Je Reve Portfolio, Year: 1975, Medium: Lithograph on Arches, Signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 93/125, Size: 26 in. ...
Lithograph
Andre Masson Exposition de ses œuvres récentes 1962-1968 à la Galerie Louise
By André Masson
Located in Paonia, CO
An original lithograph poster by French artist Andre Masson for Exposition de ses œuvres récentes 1962-1968 à la Galerie Louise ......exhibition of the recent ...
Lithograph
Andromède Etching, Surrealist Style, Signed, Edition of 50, 1960s
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Hand Signed. Edition of 50 prints. Original Prints. Publisher : Paris, Galerie Louis Leiris Image Dimensions : 21 x 26 cm This artwork is shipp...
Etching
Don Giovanni (Metropolitan Opera), Modern Poster by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - Don Giovanni (Metropolitan Opera), Year: circa 1977, Medium: Poster, Size: 36 in. x 24 in. (91.44 cm x 60.96 cm)
Offset
Galerie Louis Leiris - Lithograph by André Masson - 1968
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
This is an hand signed lithograph by André Masson, with dedication. André Masson was a French artist, well-known as part of the Surrealism. He was a painter but also a sculptor and ...
Lithograph
D.A.F. de Sade, Surrealist Color Etching by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - D.A.F. de Sade, Medium: Color Etching on laid paper, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 8/20, Image Size: 4.75 x 2.75 inches, Size: 8.5 x...
Etching
Dark Yellow Composition, Surrealist Aquatint by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - Dark Yellow Composition, Medium: Aquatint (unsigned), Image Size: 13 x 9.5 inches, Size: 15 x 11.25 in. (38.1 x 28.58 cm), Description: From t...
Aquatint
Dame au Jules, Surrealist Etching by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - Dame au Jules, Year: 1968, Medium: Etching on Japon, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 6/50, Image Size: 10.5 x 8.25 inches, Size: 15 ...
Etching
Por Le Mal de Marcel Arland, Surrealist Drypoint Etching by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Por Le Mal de Marcel Arland Andre Masson, French (1896–1987) Date: 1950 Drypoint Etching Size: 10 x 6.5 in. (25.4 x 16.51 cm) Frame Size: 17.5 x 13.5 inches From the collection of t...
Drypoint, Etching
Pompeii II, Surrealist Lithograph by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - Pompeii II, Year: 1953, Medium: Lithograph and Chine Colle on Arches, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: Epreuve d'Artiste, Image Size: 9...
Lithograph
Pompeii I, Surrealist Lithograph by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - Pompeii I, Year: 1953, Medium: Lithograph and Chine Colle, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: EA, Image Size: 12.5 x 9.25 inches, Size: ...
Lithograph
Self-Portrait I, Modern Drypoint and aquatint by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - Self-Portrait I (Portrait de l'artiste I), Year: 1946, Medium: Drypoint and aquatint on BFK Rives, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 50,...
Drypoint, Aquatint
French Abstract Surrealist Color Lithograph Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Surfside, FL
Published Benincasa Carmine. Edizioni SEAT, Torino, Italy. Offset directly from the original plates. Limited edition. This is not hand signed or numbered. Signature in the printing p...
Lithograph, Offset
Caliban, Surrealist Lithograph by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - Caliban, Year: 1966, Medium: Lithograph, Size: 10 x 7.5 in. (25.4 x 19.05 cm), Printer: Mourlot, Publisher: Mourlot, Paris
Lithograph
Deux femmes en une, Surrealist Etching by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - Deux femmes en une, Medium: Etching on wove paper, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 10/30, Image Size: 9.75 x 8 inches, Size: 14.25 x 12....
Etching
Assemblage de femmes, Surrealist Etching by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - Assemblage de femmes, Year: 1966, Medium: Etching and Aquatint, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 24/50, Image Size: 6.75 x 7.75 inches, S...
Etching, Aquatint
$1,100Sale Price|21% Off
Le Fil d'Ariane (Ariadne's Clew) /// Modern Surrealism Surrelist Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: André Masson (French, 1896-1987) Title: "Le Fil d'Ariane (Ariadne's Clew)" Portfolio: For Meyer Schapiro *Signed by Masson in pencil lower right Year: 1973 Medium: Original E...
Intaglio, Aquatint, Etching
Les Deux Nus, Modern Lithograph by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - Les Deux Nus, Year: 1949, Medium: Lithograph on wove paper, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 20/20, Image Size: 14 x 11 inches, Size: 19 ...
Lithograph
L'oiseau amoureux, Surrealist Etching by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - L'oiseau amoureux, Year: 1957, Medium: Etching and aquatint on BFK Rives, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 27/30, Image Size: 8 x 6.75 in...
Etching, Aquatint
Sans titre
By André Masson
Located in OPOLE, PL
André Masson (1896 - 1987) - Sans titre Lithograph from 1971. Edition 26/70. Dimensions of work: 70 x 50 cm. Hand signed. The work is in Excellent condition.
Lithograph
Lithograph on Japon Paper by André Masson Edition 70/101
By André Masson
Located in New York, NY
This reserved and sophisticated Lithograph on Japon Paper by André Masson Edition 70/101 originates from France, C. 1973. This surrealistic abstraction features a vertical compositio...
Lithograph
French Abstract Surrealist Color Lithograph Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Surfside, FL
Published Benincasa Carmine. Edizioni SEAT, Torino, Italy. Offset directly from the original plates. Limited edition. This is not hand signed or numbered. Signature in the printing p...
Lithograph, Offset
French Abstract Surrealist Color Lithograph Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Surfside, FL
Published Benincasa Carmine. Edizioni SEAT, Torino, Italy. Offset directly from the original plates. Limited edition. This is not hand signed or numbered. Signature in the printing p...
Lithograph, Offset
French Abstract Surrealist Color Lithograph Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Surfside, FL
Published Benincasa Carmine. Edizioni SEAT, Torino, Italy. Offset directly from the original plates. Limited edition. This is not hand signed or numbered. Signature in the printing p...
Lithograph, Offset
$1,695
French Surrealist Color Etching "La Sibylle et les Astres" Signed & Numbered
By André Masson
Located in Portland, OR
A very attractive French surrealist color etching by Andre Masson (1896-1987), signed & numbered. The etching is titled in French "La Sibylle et les Astres", translated as "The Sybil...
Color Pencil, Aquatint
French Abstract Surrealist Color Lithograph Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Surfside, FL
Published Benincasa Carmine. Edizioni SEAT, Torino, Italy. Offset directly from the original plates. Limited edition. This is not hand signed or numbered. Signature in the printing p...
Lithograph, Offset
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Andre Masson, Untitled, from Albert Camus, oeuvres completes, 1962
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Andre Masson (1896–1987), titled Sans titre (Untitled), originates from the 1962 album Albert Camus, oeuvres completes, essais philosophiques, Le mythe d...
Lithograph
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Andre Masson, Untitled, from Albert Camus, oeuvres completes, 1962
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Andre Masson (1896–1987), titled Sans titre (Untitled), originates from the 1962 album Albert Camus, oeuvres completes, essais philosophiques, Le mythe d...
Lithograph
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Andre Masson, Untitled, from Albert Camus, oeuvres completes, 1962
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Andre Masson (1896–1987), titled Sans titre (Untitled), originates from the 1962 album Albert Camus, oeuvres completes, essais philosophiques, Le mythe d...
Lithograph
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Andre Masson, Untitled, from Albert Camus, oeuvres completes, 1962
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Andre Masson (1896–1987), titled Sans titre (Untitled), originates from the 1962 album Albert Camus, oeuvres completes, essais philosophiques, Le mythe d...
Lithograph
$7,300
"Venise en Fleurs" from "Je Reve, " Surrealist Lithograph signed by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Venise en Fleurs" is an original color lithograph by Andre Masson. This piece is from the "Je Reve" (I Dream) portfolio of 1975. The edition number, written lower left, is H.C. XXV/...
Lithograph
"Le Prince Iris, " Surrealist Lithograph From "Je Reve" Portfolio
By André Masson
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Le Prince Iris" is an original color lithograph by Andre Masson. The artist signed the piece lower right in pencil and wrote the edition number, H.C. XXV/X...
Lithograph
$1,356Sale Price|20% Off
Andre Masson, Untitled, from The Seventh Song, 1974
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite engraving by Andre Masson (1896–1987), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the folio Le septieme chant, la mort d'Isidore Ducasse, Jeudi 24 Bovembre 1870, 7 Rue du Faub...
Engraving
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Composition, Poèmes insoumis, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Poêmes insoumis, 1963. Published by Marc Barbezat, Paris; ...
Lithograph
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Composition, Poèmes insoumis, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Poêmes insoumis, 1963. Published by Marc Barbezat, Paris; ...
Lithograph
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Composition, Poèmes insoumis, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Poêmes insoumis, 1963. Published by Marc Barbezat, Paris; ...
Lithograph
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Composition, Poèmes insoumis, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Poêmes insoumis, 1963. Published by Marc Barbezat, Paris; ...
Lithograph
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Composition, Poèmes insoumis, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Poêmes insoumis, 1963. Published by Marc Barbezat, Paris; ...
Lithograph
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Composition, Poèmes insoumis, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Southampton, NY
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Poêmes insoumis, 1963. Published by Marc Barbezat, Paris; ...
Lithograph
Surrealist Composition 9 - Original Collotype Print by A. Masson - 20th Century
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Surrealist Composition 9 is an original collotype realized by André Masson. The artwork is in good conditions, no signature on a yellowed paper. André Masson (1896-1987)was a Frenc...
Black and White
Totem Etching Print, Signed Edition of 30, Abstract, Circa 1940
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Image dimensions: 28x18 cm. Edition of only 30 prints, numbered and hand signed. Excellent conditions. This artwork is shipped from Italy. Under existing legislation, any artwork in...
Etching
Bones And Chrysalids
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Hand Signed. Edition of 60 prints.
Lithograph
Surrealist Rodeo Etching, 20th Century, Signed, Edition of 50
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Hand Signed. Edition of 50 prints. Image Dimensions : 20 x 25 cm
Etching
Femme Etching, Surrealist Style, Signed, Edition 31/50, 1960s
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Hand Signed. Edition of 50 copies (31/50). Image Dimensions : 20.5 x 26.5 cm
Etching
Embleme, Surrealist Etching and Aquatint by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - Embleme, Year: 1942, Medium: Etching and Aquatint, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 5/30, Image Size: 9.5 x 8.75 inches, Size: 18.25 ...
Etching, Aquatint
Dance de feu, Surrealist Color Etching by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Andre Masson, French (1896 - 1987) - Dance de feu, Year: circa 1960, Medium: Color Etching on BFK Rives, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 50, Image Size: 8 x 10.5 inches, ...
Etching
Le soleil passe au dessus de la fontaine, Surrealist Lithograph by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - Le soleil passe au dessus de la fontaine, Medium: Lithograph on thin wove paper, unsigned, Image Size: 9.75 x 12.75 inches, Size: 11 x 13.25 in...
Lithograph
Pompeii III, Surrealist Lithograph by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - Pompeii III, Year: 1953, Medium: Lithograph and Chine Colle on Arches, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: Epreuve d'Artiste, Image Size: ...
Lithograph
Light Blue Composition, Surrealist Aquatint by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - Light Blue Composition, Medium: Aquatint (unsigned), Image Size: 13 x 10 inches, Size: 15 x 11 in. (38.1 x 27.94 cm), Description: From the co...
Aquatint
La montagne Sainte-Victoire, Surrealist Etching by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - La montagne Sainte-Victoire, Year: 1947, Medium: Etching, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 10/20, Image Size: 8 x 9.75 inches, Size: 1...
Etching
Place de la Concorde, Surrealist Lithograph by André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
André Masson, French (1896 -1987) - Place de la Concorde, Year: 1962, Medium: Lithograph on Japon, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: VI/X, Image Size: 15.25 x 11.75 inches,...
Lithograph
French Abstract Surrealist Vintage Lithograph Mourlot Poster Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Surfside, FL
André-Aimé-René Masson (4 January 1896 – 28 October 1987) was a French artist. Masson was born in Balagny-sur-Thérain, Oise, but when he was eight his father's work took the family ...
Lithograph
Le Septieme Chant, Portfolio of Surreal Etchings by Andre Masson
By André Masson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Andre Masson Title: Le Septieme Chant Year: 1974 Medium: Portfolio of four Etchings on Arches, signed and numbered on the colophon Edition: 157/175 Paper Size: 15 x 11.5 inc...
Etching