Max Ernst, The Temptation of St. Anthony, 1945, Oil on canvas, 108 x 128 cm, Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg

The exhibition “Max Ernst: Surrealismo, Arte y Cine” will be structured around six areas that will provide a deep and unprecedented approach to this key figure of the Dada and Surrealism movement, who contributed so much to the development of modern European art.

In total, more than 300 carefully selected pieces – oil paintings, sculptures, collages, frottages, illustrated books, films and original photographs – will highlight the artist’s connections to cinema. Included will be prestigious works such as the paintings The Temptations of Saint Anthony (Museum Lehmbruck, Duisburg) or Lot’s Daughters (Pietzsch Collection, Berlin), and sculptures such as Homme (Max Ernst Museum, Brühl).

The exhibition design will immerse the visitor in the unique, adventurous and restless life of Max Ernst. Along the way, connections to progressive themes such as exile, as well as cross-cultural and environmental issues, will be revealed.

Max Ernst’s life and work continue to have a powerful impact on the contemporary art scene today. Although part of art history, his itinerant existence and interdisciplinary and collaborative approach resonate with the characteristics of today’s ‘nomadic’ artists. In this way, the past expands to embrace the universal, as knowledge and culture, as well as space and time, intertwine in a heightened philosophical game that invites reflection.

A rigorous investigation into Max Ernst’s connection to cinema

In 1921, André Breton compared Ernst’s collages to cinema, highlighting how his works broke away from traditional two-dimensional media (painting and drawing). Breton described Ernst as a magician, capable of projecting before our eyes the “most captivating film in the world.”

Cinema has been a constant influence on Ernst’s career, from his role as an actor, member of film juries, to designer of film awards (for example, for Henri Gruel, Roman Polanski and Jan Švankmajer, whose short films are also presented here). His work has inspired surrealist cinema and numerous later filmmakers, creating a deep and ongoing link between his art and cinema.

The exhibition will feature film clips and immersive projections that will establish a constant and dynamic dialogue with the works.

It will include excerpts from films such as “Un Chien Andalou” and “The Golden Age” by Luis Buñuel, “The Dreams That Money Can Buy” and “8 × 8: A Chess Sonata in 8 Moves” by Hans Richter, “Max Ernst – My Wandering, My Restlessness” by Peter Schamoni, and short films entitled “A Week of Kindness” by Jean Desvilles, “Maximiliana” by Peter Schamoni, and two more pieces by Julien Levy, presented here to the public for the first time.

“Max Ernst: Surrealismo, Arte y Cine” is curated by Martina Mazzotta, art historian and writer and researcher at The Warburg Institute in London, and by Jürgen Pech, former curator of the Max Ernst Museum in Brühl, Germany, and editor of the latest volume of the catalogue raisonné of Max Ernst’s work. Recently, both have curated international exhibitions on Max Ernst and have carried out specific research for the occasion in Madrid, ensuring a scientific and rigorous approach that guarantees the durability of Ernst’s legacy.

Get the tickets here

Practical information:

Venue: Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid. Calle de Alcalá, 42.

Dates: From 5 December 2024 to 4 May 2025.

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays except holidays.

About Sold Out

With three decades of experience in the field of culture and entertainment, Sold Out has established itself as one of the most prominent companies in Spain, being responsible for some of the most renowned shows and exhibitions that have come to our country. In the exhibition field, Sold Out is a pioneer in the organization of international exhibitions in Spain. In recent years, it has presented more than 20 exhibitions on iconic themes and brands of popular culture, some of which have been among the most important that have been presented in Spain, such as Harry Potter: The Exhibition, David Bowie Is, Björk Digital, Banksy: The Street is a Canvas, Tutankhamun: The Tomb and His Treasures, Jurassic World: The Exhibition, Pink Floyd Exhibition, Game of Thrones: The Official Exhibition, Steve McCurry. Icons, Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition or Hergé. The Exhibition, among others. More information at soldout.es

About Círculo de Bellas Artes

Círculo de Bellas Artes (CBA) is a private, non-profit cultural entity based on Calle Alcalá in Madrid, Spain. Founded in 1880, it has been declared a “Centre for the Protection of Fine Arts and Public Utility” since 1921. It is a multidisciplinary centre, as it carries out activities ranging from the visual arts to literature, including science, philosophy, cinema and the performing arts. Since its creation, it has carried out important work of international scope in the field of creation, dissemination and cultural management, being one of the most important private cultural centres in Europe. More information at circulobellasartes.com

About Madeinart

MADEINART is a company with offices in Rome and Milan whose main activity is the production and dissemination of art and culture through various channels: art exhibitions, documentary films, educational programmes and charity events. MADEINART productions are the result of an intense and energetic process followed at all stages, from the creation of the concept to the final realization. MADEINART is the fruit of the union of multiple professionals with valuable experience in various fields: management, art history, curatorial work, cinema, architecture and the search for artistic talents at an international level. Since its foundation, the company has had excellent collaborations that allow it to be a structure a flexible. Thanks to a rich and growing network of relationships with prestigious international institutions, foundations, museums, private and public collections and art galleries, MADEINART is able to produce all kinds of cultural projects. MADEINART has created a strong and lasting link between art and fashion, promoting collaboration between famous artists and fashion brands, through the creation of “art objects” in limited editions. More information on madeinart.it