The artwork titled “A maiden, a widow and a wife,” created by Max Ernst in 1956 in Paris, France, is an oil painting on canvas that belongs to the Surrealism art movement. This symbolic painting is currently held in a private collection.
The artwork features an abstract composition that is characteristic of Surrealism, with amorphous and biomorphic shapes rendered in vibrant hues. The upper half of the canvas is dominated by an organic form in shades of red, pink, and brown against a green background, evoking a sense of mystery and depth. Adjacent to this form is an orange-yellow shape, similarly ambiguous in nature. The lower portion of the painting boasts a striking contrast with a vivid blue expanse, possibly signifying water or a metaphorical boundary, and an earthy, textured form in its midst, accompanied by a bright red element. The overall composition elicits an enigmatic narrative, inviting viewers to explore the symbolic relationships between the elements within the artwork.